Lost Lenore Part 47

I afterwards learnt that the Chinaman had been an opium eater; and that he had secretly squandered some gold, in which his mates owned shares.

The crime preying on his conscience--perhaps, when he had no opium to fortify it--was supposed to be the cause of his committing the act of self-destruction.

Volume Two, Chapter x.x.xI.

A DISAGREEABLE PARTNERSHIP.

For two or three days I strolled about the diggings, looking for some opportunity of setting myself to work. On the Eureka lead I found five men holding a claim, that stood a good chance of being "on the line."

It was within four claims of a place where gold was being taken out; and the "lead" would have to take a sharp turn to escape this place. A shaft had already been sunk to the depth of twenty feet, that would have to go down about ninety feet further. It would require eight hands to work the claim; and the five who owned it wished to sell some shares-- for the purpose of making up the number.

The price asked was fifty pounds each; and, not seeing any better prospect of getting into a partnership, I purchased a share; and paid over the money.

I did not much like the appearance of my new partners. None of them looked like men accustomed to do hard work, or earn their livelihood in any respectable way. They seemed better suited for standing behind a counter, to sell gloves and ribbons, than for the occupation of gold-digging. But that the claim was likely to prove rich, I should not have chosen them as working a.s.sociates.

One of the number was named John Darby. He was one of those individuals, who can never avail themselves of the fine opportunities afforded, for saying nothing. Darby's tongue was constantly on the go, and would often give utterance to a thousand words that did not contain a single idea. His eloquence was of the voluble kind, and very painful to the ear--being nothing but sound, without one grain of sense. His voice often reminded me of the clattering of the flour-mills I had heard in Callao. Whenever he would mount a hobby, and get his tongue freely going, the air seemed to vibrate with the movement of ten thousand demons, each hurling a fire-ball into the brain of the listener!

According to his own account, Darby had been ten times shipwrecked on the voyage of life. Several times, by not being able to marry as he wished; and once, when he was too successful in this design. The latter misfortune he regarded as being more serious than all the others.

Physically, as well as morally and intellectually, my gold-digging companion, John Darby was a singular creature. He did not weigh more than ten stone--though he was six feet one inch high standing in his shoes.

He had a small round head, from which hung long bay-coloured tresses of hair; and these he every day submitted to a careful dressing _a la Nazarene_.

Another member of our interesting "firm," who went by the name of "George," was simply an educated idiot.

In the opinion of many persons the man who has received a book education--whatever his natural abilities--must be a highly intelligent person. For my part, I think different; and I have adopted my belief, from an extensive experience of mankind.

It has been my misfortune to meet with many men of the cla.s.s called "educated," who knew absolutely nothing that was worth the knowing; and George was one of these. He had received college instruction, yet no one could spend five minutes in his company without thinking of the phrase "ignorant idiot."

Like most people of his cla.s.s, his folly was made amusingly conspicuous, by his a.s.sumption of an intellectual superiority over the rest of his companions.

Like most people, too, he had his vexations, the greatest being that his superiority was not always acknowledged. On the contrary, he was often chagrined by the discovery: that the light of his genius--like that of the lamp that burned in Tullia's grave--could not be seen of men. His eccentricities were at times amusing. Perhaps he had not been created in vain, though it was difficult to determine what had been the design of bestowing existence upon such a man--unless to warn others against the absurdities, by which he daily distinguished himself. He was a living lesson in the sixth volume of the great work of Nature; and none could study him, without subjecting themselves to a severe self-examination. Useless as I may have supposed the existence of this man to be, I must acknowledge myself indebted to him for many valuable lessons. My observation of his follies had the effect of awakening within me certain trains of thought, that removed from my own mind many strong prejudices. .h.i.therto possessing it. In this sense, I might say, that, he had not been created in vain, though his intended mission could not have been that of delving for gold on the fields of Ballarat.

Another of our firm had been an apothecary's a.s.sistant in London; and had but recently made his _debut_ on the diggings. He could not think of anything else, nor talk on any other subject, than the "shop," and what it contained; and I could not help fancying myself close to a chemical laboratory, whenever this individual came near me.

The other two partners of the concern used to make their appearance on the claim, about ten o'clock in the morning; and generally in a state of semi-intoxication.

These two men kept my mind in a constant state of trepidation--that is, when they were at work with me. I could never feel safe, in the shaft below, when I knew that either of the two was at the windla.s.s.

Any man, in the least degree affected by drink, is a dangerous a.s.sociate in the working of a gold mine--especially when entrusted with the charge of the windla.s.s. He may not see when a bucket wants landing; or, when trying to lower it, he may hang the handle over the wrong hook--an almost certain consequence of which will be the crushing in of the skull of whoever may have the misfortune to be below!

No wonder that I felt some apprehension, while toiling in the companionship of my intoxicated partners.

Volume Two, Chapter x.x.xII.

A SUDDEN DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.

So much did my apprehensions prey upon me, that I had some idea of selling out my share and forsaking the partnership; but I had not been very long in the concern, before becoming convinced that we were sinking a shaft into one of the richest claims upon the line.

It was alike evident to me, that a great deal of hard labour would have to be performed, before the gold could be got out of it; and that my a.s.sociates were the wrong men for this sort of thing.

Fortunately at this crisis a man of a different character purchased one of the two shares, that had remained unsold. Fearing that the other share might fall into the hands of some trifler like the rest of my original partners, I purchased it myself; and then underlet it to a young fellow, with whom I had formed an acquaintance. This young man had been hitherto unsuccessful at gold-digging. His name was John Oakes; and I had learnt from him that, he was by profession a sailor, yet--unlike the majority of sailors met with on the gold fields--he was a man of temperate habits; and seemed determined to save money, if he could only get hold of it.

Up to this time he had not found an opportunity of acting upon his good resolves: for every claim, in which he had taken a share, had turned out a failure.

Before telling Oakes of my intentions towards him, I simply informed him, that I had purchased the eighth share in our claim, and offered to underlet it to him.

"There's nothing I'd have liked better," said he, "than to get into a claim along with you. You are always lucky; and I should have been sure of getting something at last; but unfortunately I haven't the money to pay what you have advanced."

"Never mind that," rejoined I. "The claim is pretty safe to be on the lead; and you can pay me, when you have obtained your gold out of it."

"Then I accept your offer," said Oakes, apparently much gratified. "I need not tell you, how kind I think it of you to make it. I feel sure it will bring me a change of luck. I've never had but one decent claim, since I've been on the diggings; and the gold I got out of that was stolen from me. Rather, should I say, I was robbed of it. Did I ever tell you how that happened?"

"No--not that I remember."

"Well, then, let me tell you now. There were three of us in partnership, in a good claim on Eagle-Hawk Gully, Bendigo. We got out of it about forty-eight pounds of pure gold. During the time we were at work, we used to take the gold--as quick as we cleaned it out--to the Escort Office; and leave it there on deposit, until we should finish the job.

"When we had worked out the claim, we all went together to the office, and drew out the deposit.

"My two mates lived in a tent by themselves; and they proposed that we should go there--for the purpose of dividing our `spoil.'

"On the way, we stopped at a tavern--with the owner of which they were acquainted, where they borrowed some gold weights and scales. They also purchased a bottle of brandy--to a.s.sist us, as they said, in the pleasant task that we had to perform.

"We then continued on to their tent. After going inside, we closed the door--so that no one should interrupt us, or see what we were about.

"Before proceeding to business, each of my mates drank a `taut' of the brandy; and, although I did not care for it, to keep from quarrelling with them, I took a thimbleful myself. Immediately after swallowing that brandy--although, as I have said, there was only a thimbleful of it, I became insensible; and knew nothing of what pa.s.sed afterwards. I did not recover my senses, until the next morning, when I found my two mates gone, and nothing in the tent except myself! They had taken the whole of the gold--including my share--along with them; and I have never set eyes upon either of them since.

"That lesson has cured me for ever of any propensity for strong drink, besides making me very particular as to the men I work with. What sort of fellows are they in the claim with you?"

"That is a subject on which I was just going to speak to you," said I.

"They are not of the right sort for the work we have to do: one of them is an old woman, another a young one, and a third is worse than either.

Two others are drunkards. There is only one--and he lately entered with us--who can be depended on for doing any work."

"It's unfortunate," said Oakes; "but I mustn't lose the chance of a good claim, for all that. I've no other prospect of getting one. I'll come over in the morning; and go to work with you. Perhaps, when the shaft is sunk, and we get a sight of the gold, there may be a reformation amongst your mates."

Next morning, at seven o'clock, Oakes made his appearance upon the claim. George and the apothecary came up a little later; and were soon followed by Mr John Darby.

When Oakes and Darby met, they recognised each other as old acquaintances.

"Is it possible, Darby, that I find _you_ still in the colony?" asked Oakes. "I thought that you had long ago started for England."

"No; I did not intend going home," replied Darby, evidently not too well pleased at encountering his old acquaintance. "I only went to Melbourne for a few days--to recruit my health, which was never very good at Bendigo. After getting all right again, I came out here."

Darby continued talking as if against time; and, as we were looking out with some impatience for the two drunkards, we allowed him to go on without interruption.

I had requested all the members of the "firm" to be early upon the ground on that particular morning. A full company had now been made up; and I wanted to come to some understanding with my partners--about a more energetic "exploration" of the claim.

The two "swipers," as they were called, soon after made their appearance; and, as they drew near, I could perceive that another recognition had taken place.

On seeing the new partner, both turned sharp round; and then started off, at a brisk pace, in the opposite direction!