The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 136

"Perhaps the reason is, you are worth nothing," suggested Sam, after a brief survey of the speaker.

"You have hit the nail of the coffin on its head this time," chuckled Day. "I don't see a sovereign from one year's end to t'other, and don't 'spect to till my time has expired, so that I can work for myself."

"You are a ticket of leave man, then?" demanded Sam, with more feeling than he had shown during the interview.

"Well, if I wasn't I shouldn't be here, working for thirty pounds a year, when there's gold to be dug for the mere paying of a license. No, no, just wait till I can call myself my own master, and then the sheep and stock may go to the devil, for all that I care."

"Can't you tell us something more about the ghost?" asked one of the men, who seemed to take an especial interest in Day's narrative.

"Well, I don't like to talk about the matter, 'cos 'tis said that the old feller visits those who are too intimate with his name. My comrade, who is at the other end of the station, told me once that he saw the Hunter when he was all in a blaze, and that when he spoke the ghost and flames disappeared. I don't believe half what he tells me though, 'cos I 'spose he tries to frighten me, but I've got as much courage as he has, any day."

There was a breathless silence for a few moments, and the robbers seemed to be digesting the story which they had listened to. We could see them whispering together, and apparently were disposed to believe what the shepherd had said.

"Here are the prints of horses feet," Sam exclaimed, pointing to the ground. "Have you seen hors.e.m.e.n in this vicinity lately?"

"Heaven forbid," cried Day. "The only horse that visits these parts is rode by the Hunter."

"Then we will give him fire to light him on his way," exclaimed Sam, with a forced laugh, and calling his men he turned and walked towards his late encampment, and was soon lost to view.

His gang followed close at his heels, and we were not sorry to see them depart, although we could not help wondering what was meant by the threat of finding fire for the supposed ghost. We found out, however, full soon, and owed the scamp a bitter grudge for his work.

The shepherd pretended to walk rapidly in the direction of the stock-house, but concealed himself amid the trees, and waited until he thought the last robber had retired from sight, when he again joined us, and received our hearty congratulations for his good conduct.

"Now, then, let us have another search for the treasure," cried Mr.

Brown, springing into the hole which Day had excavated, after he had frightened us from the island.

"And you can't be too quick about the work, neither," muttered the shepherd.

I asked for a meaning to his expression, but he declined answering, and seizing the pick began to tear up the sods with l.u.s.ty strokes, but before a dozen blows wore struck, I heard the point of his pick strike something that gave forth a metallic sound.

"Hold on, Day," I cried, "the prize is within our grasp at last."

I carefully removed the dirt with my hands, and had the satisfaction of bringing to light a canvas bag that was so decayed that it barely supported the heavy weight which it contained.

Mr. Brown and the shepherd were almost frantic with delight, and would have cheered l.u.s.tily, had not fear of bringing the bushrangers upon us again restrained them.

"Down with it, so that I can say I have seen some money in my lifetime!"

cried Day. "Empty it out, and let me feel of it; let me but touch the precious yellow boys with my fingers, and wonder how many splendid funerals it would pay for."

I took one of his sheepskins and poured the contents of the bag upon it, and out rattled gold dust, sovereigns, doubloons, a number of American gold pieces--all bearing the date of 1832--articles of jewelry, such as finger rings and watch chains, and at the bottom of the bag was a lady's gold watch, enamelled back, and half a dozen small diamonds set in the form of a cross upon the case. I examined the watch carefully, and saw a stain near the diamonds. Something told me that the mark was the blood of the unfortunate owner. I laid the jewel down with a shudder, and thought of the cruelties to which the owner had undoubtedly been subject before she met her death. Day, however, partook of none of my feelings, for he was eager to possess so attractive a trinket.

"Take it if you desire it," I said, handing the watch to the shepherd, "but you will always recollect that there is a stain of blood upon the case."

"Not I," he replied, handling the article with as much pride and pleasure as a boy receives a new toy; "I didn't shed her blood, and so shan't trouble myself about this little spot that is on the case. It's as pretty as a mahogany coffin, but it don't go."

"The works are rusted, and it will be necessary to send it to Melbourne for repairs."

"Not I," answered the ghost, with a chuckle; "somebody might see it and lay claim to it, and then where would be my watch, and where would I be?

Another term at the hulks is not agreeable to think of, and my accounts of the manner in which I got hold of the thing wouldn't be believed. No, no; I'll wear it out of sight until I leave the country, or am rich enough to escape suspicion."

I thought that Day's course was the best, if he desired to retain possession of the property, for, as he said, a number of awkward questions would probably have been asked him at Melbourne, the mere carrying of a watch by a ticket of leave man being looked upon as suspicious by people who were not so honest as Day.

We continued our examination of the treasure, and were delighted to find that it exceeded our expectations, and so engrossed were we in speculating upon the nature of the dust that we forgot the hardships attendant upon obtaining it.

We counted the coins, and found that we had about three thousand dollars, and I judged the dust was worth about as much more, as it was of good quality, and entirely free of dirt. "Now, Day, how much shall we give you for your valuable services?" asked' Mr. Brown.

"O, I am satisfied with this," he answered, holding up his watch, which he was polishing on his shirt sleeve.

"But, of course, you expect a portion of the dust and gold coins?"

"No, I don't expect any thing, 'cos I volunteered my services, and I'm always happy to accommodate, as the man said who was willing to be put in a coffin before he was dead. Never mind me, I'm satisfied."

The shepherd's modesty surprised me, for I had antic.i.p.ated, from his eagerness to get hold of the watch, that he would be equally as eager for a share of the gold, and Mr. Brown and myself were both aware that he deserved a handsome reward for the dangers through which he had pa.s.sed to free us from the inquisitiveness of the bushrangers.

Therefore, the more backward Day appeared the more firmly did we insist upon doing justice to his merits.

Mr. Brown and myself consulted together for a few minutes, and then concluded to give him a thousand dollars in gold coin; and when we announced our decision, the shepherd was frantic with delight.

"O, luddy!" he cried, "wouldn't I have a time to-night if I was in London and had this money in my pocket? Wouldn't I drink 'alf and 'alf till I couldn't speak, and then go to bed with--"

So elated did Day get with the idea that he clapped his hands together, and sprang into the air, cutting antics of the most singular kind. While he was thus expressing his grat.i.tude, and even while his face was teeming with pleasure, I saw a wonderful change come over it. He stopped speaking, and muttered,--

"D----n 'em; now they have done it, and no mistake!"

"What is the matter, Day?" asked Mr. Brown, rather sternly, thinking the remark was applied to us.

The shepherd pointed with his hand in the direction of the main land, and one look was sufficient to convince us that the threat which Sam had uttered was no idle one, for a cloud of black smoke was issuing from the trees, not in one place alone, but in fifty, and before we could recover from our astonishment, a sheet of flame darted from the woods, and gathering headway as it crept along, seized upon the dry gra.s.s, and rapidly approached the peninsula.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

THE ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE.

All the troubles through which we had pa.s.sed were mere child's play compared to our situation at the present time, for a forest on fire was a danger that was calculated to test our energies to the utmost if we expected to escape with whole skins and our lives. For a few minutes, therefore, we were overwhelmed and speechless, and gazed into each other's faces for counsel. Our first thoughts were that we could remain on the island and escape the fury of the flames, and so we might have done had we possessed water sufficient to quench not only our own thirst but that of the animals. A moment's reflection, however, convinced us that we could not exist for half a day where we were, with a scorching sun overhead and a roaring fire in front, and that, if we intended to escape, we must begin to make preparations without delay, as every second the flames increased and extended on all sides.

"Pocket the gold," shouted Day, setting us an example with his share.

"We will try and save that and our own lives, but as for the rest of the baggage we must leave it behind."

We were not backward in filling our pockets with the dust and coins and by the time we had secured the last scale Day was saddling the horses and putting on their bridles.

"We can never get the animals through the fire," Mr. Brown said, well knowing the reluctance with which horses approach flames.

"I've thought of that," responded Day, "and intend to cover their eyes with sheepskins."

The idea was a capital one, and was immediately carried into effect The skins which Day had used to play the ghost were now employed to cover the heads of our restless animals, for as the fire increased they seemed to be aware of their danger, and were with difficulty prevented from plunging into the bog, where they would soon have been smothered in defiance of our exertions. The instant that their eyes were blindfolded they became perfectly quiet, and suffered themselves to be led to the peninsula, which they crossed without accident, and while we debated for a few minutes which course we should take to avoid the danger, the animals remained motionless, as though they had every confidence in our wisdom.