The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 139

"We have to be extremely cautious whom we admit within these walls," Mr.

Wright continued, "for a gang of bushrangers has been prowling around the farm for a week or more, and are endeavoring to destroy my flocks.

How shall I know that you don't belong to the gang?"

He waved his hand in a significant manner, and I could not have been more surprised had an earthquake shaken me from my horse.

"My deeds have always been squared in accordance with the great principles of the fraternity," I replied, and it was pleasing to see what a change took place in the demeanor of the farmer.

"Down with your guns," he shouted, "and unbolt and unbar the door. See to the gentleman's horse, and let us have for supper the best that the station affords."

The heads disappeared from the windows as if by magic, and in a few seconds' time the heavy outer door was thrown open, and forth issued Mr.

Wright at the head of his employees. I signalized to Mr. Brown and Day to advance, and then dismounted and met the strong grip of the farmer's hand with one equally as hearty.

"I ask ten thousand pardons," he said, "for my questions, but I am obliged to keep a strict guard over my property, or I should be surprised by the forest rovers, who would amply repay the numerous checks which they have received at my hands, were they able to do so."

"Make no apologies," I replied, "for I don't blame you for cla.s.sing me with suspicious characters; but the fact is, we have pa.s.sed through a cordon of flames, and I think our clothing is somewhat damaged, and our personal appearance not very prepossessing. We should not have troubled you had not necessity compelled us."

"No trouble, no trouble," he exclaimed, with all the heartiness of an Englishman who is disposed to be friendly; "I am always glad to see company, provided, of course, it's the right kind."

By this time Mr. Brown and Day had joined us, and were waiting to receive the same welcome that had been bestowed upon me. I introduced them in due form, and gave Mr. Brown his ex-t.i.tle, which pleased him excessively.

"I know you," Mr. Wright said, addressing Mr. Brown. "Haven't we met before?"

"I should say that we had," replied my friend, scanning the farmer's face keenly.

"You were stationed at one time in Melbourne?" Mr. Wright inquired.

"For a number of years."

"And of course you remember that I landed at that city ten years since, with one hundred pounds in my pocket?"

"Large numbers of emigrants arrived with more money than that," replied the ex-inspector.

"But my case was a peculiar one, for the first night that I stopped on sh.o.r.e my hundred pounds were stolen," continued Mr. Wright.

"Quite a common case," my friend said; "women are fair to look upon after a long sea voyage."

"D---- it, you have 'hit the nail on its head," cried the Englishman, hastily. "I lost all my money."

"I knew you would say that, if you told all. Go on."

"I complained to the police, and you investigated the circ.u.mstances, and found my hundred pounds after some trouble," he continued. "Be thankful that I was young and inexperienced at that period," cried the ex-inspector, with a laugh.

"More--you refused to accept of a reward that I offered for the recovery of the money."

"I must have been dreaming. I am glad to think that there is one circ.u.mstance in my life that I can refer to and not blush," cried my friend, jocosely.

"Bah!" cried the farmer, who didn't believe that Mr. Brown was speaking what he felt. "You gave me good advice, and from it I trace all my property."

"I am glad to think that I have given one person good advice in my lifetime. I wish that I had taken some of it myself."

"I followed your directions and bought stock with my hundred pounds, and now look around and see my flocks. I count my cattle by the thousands,"

continued Mr. Wright, pointing to his immense pens.

"I remember you," my friend said, "and knew you the instant you spoke, but I preferred to let you recall reminiscences of by-gone days, to see if there is any grat.i.tude in the world."

"Grat.i.tude?" echoed Mr. Wright; "darn it, man, when you are tired of stopping with me I'll give you a hundred head of cattle."

"Don't do it, for mercy's sake. I prefer that you should give us something to eat now. Show your liberality that way, for we are famishing."

"Eat, man! you shall have the best that I can get. Here, Mike, Pat, Peter, where am you all? Take charge of the gentlemen's horses, and give them a feed of grain and a thorough rubbing down. Put supper on the table instantly, and brew us a bowl of punch that will make us sing like nightingales, and sleep like honest men. This way, gentlemen, there is my house--rough and uncouth, but better than the shelter of a tree during a rainy night. You are welcome to my hospitality."

CHAPTER LXXV.

SUPPER.--RETURN OF MR. WRIGHT'S SCOUTS.

The room into which Mr. Wright conducted us was on the ground floor, and was about thirty feet deep and fifteen feet wide. Around the walls were hung skins of kangaroos, stuffed parrots, and other birds of gaudy plumage, while confined in brackets were old muskets in sufficient quant.i.ties to frighten all the natives of Australia, but their appearance, imposing as they were, would not have sufficiently impressed a bushranger of nerve into the belief that they were dangerous, even if loaded with their proper quantum of powder and lead.

We had hardly crossed the threshold of the building when a shrill voice greeted us with,--

"D----n bushrangers--d----n bushrangers--caught at last!--ha, ha!--I knew it!--I said so!--steal sheep, will you?"

We started back at such a reception, and Mr. Brown began to mutter something about "gratuitous insults," when Mr. Wright pointed to a remarkably large parrot that was roosting on the back of a chair, surveying us with quiet dignity, and evidently with considerable worldly wisdom.

Our anger vanished, and we made immediate overtures to Poll, for the purpose of establishing a firm friendship, but our advances were met with dignified coolness, while Day, who attempted to scratch the bird's head, got severely bitten for his pains.

"D----n the beast!" muttered the shepherd, rubbing his finger.

"That's right--swear! D----n it, why don't you swear? Sheep stealers!

Who robs people? Ha, ha! Set the dogs on 'em!"

"A precocious parrot," said Mr. Wright, "and he is indebted for his profanity to my men, who learn him much that is bad, and little that is good, and to tell the truth, he learns the former much more readily than the latter."

"In which he closely resembles our policemen," muttered the ex-inspector.

"These gentlemen are my friends," said Mr. Wright, addressing the parrot, and formally presenting us for its distinguished consideration.

"O, friends, hey?" croaked the bird, eyeing us sharply; "why didn't you say so before? give Toll something; pretty Poll!"

We were unable to comply with the request, and the parrot didn't spare us in his denunciations for our illiberality, and to relieve us, Mr.

Wright proposed that we should visit his private apartment and change our clothes, seeing that we stood in need of different raiment very much, and having none of our own at hand.

The room into which we were shown was used as a sleeping apartment and wardrobe by the proprietor of the station, and while it contained but few of the luxuries of civilized life, it was not entirely dest.i.tute of a comfortable appearance.

In one corner was a rude bedstead, with a hair mattress and blankets, a looking gla.s.s of miniature dimensions, a rifle of English pattern, heavy and c.u.mbersome, a pair of splendid duelling pistols, a long sword with basket hilt, and a bowie knife.