The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 153

Even while Fred was entertaining us with news he was busily engaged in starting a fire in the stove for the purpose of preparing our breakfast.

"It is too late to hope to escape bloodshed," Fred continued, "unless concessions are made on the part of the government, which are not looked for. I am informed that the commissioner sends despatches to the governor-general every day, in which he represents the miners as on the point of yielding, and that energy and firmness are alone required to subdue them to his wishes, and prevent further outbreaks. You see how shamefully he is misleading the government, for there are not two hundred men in Ballarat, exclusive of the police force, but who will fight against the tax."

"How is it known that the commissioner sends such despatches?" I asked.

"Why, to tell you the truth," said Fred, sinking his voice to a whisper, "a party of men ambushed the courier day before yesterday, and rifled his despatches. The letters contained a request for more men and plenty of ammunition, and a hope to have the rebels suing for mercy in less than two weeks."

"And how are our countrymen acting?" I asked.

"They are not so backward as I could wish," replied Fred; "for they should remember that we are on a foreign soil, and that an active part is not required of us. But few can withstand the flattery that has been brought to bear upon them, and as a general thing they are all arrayed with the miners. Their rifles are wanted, and dreadful havoc they will make if blows are exchanged."

"And you have taken no part in the question as yet?" Mr. Brown asked.

"No; although offers in abundance have been made by government agents and the leaders in the revolutionary movement. We have too many thousand dollars at stake to trifle with public affairs, although if--"

Fred paused while pouring out the coffee, and looked hard at Mr. Brown.

"Go on," said that gentleman. "Treat me as though I was a countryman and a brother."

"If the people were about to enter upon a struggle for liberty and independence, I would not mind sacrificing all the property that I possess to help secure so desirable a blessing. But the word liberty is never mentioned. It is only a question of money, and therefore I shall stand aloof."

"By the way, how has business been while we were absent?" I asked.

"Never better. The sales have been large and the profits good. We are out of many things, but Smith should be along this afternoon, and he will supply the deficiency. Now tell me of your trip. Of course you didn't find the buried treasure, and you have returned a little poorer than when you went away."

"That depends upon the estimation in which you hold this kind of coin,"

I replied, emptying my pockets upon the table, and throwing down a good sized bag of gold dust.

Fred opened his eyes in astonishment.

"Do you mean to tell me that you have been successful?" he asked.

"As far as getting the gold is concerned we have; but if you ask us if we have had smooth sailing during our cruise, I shall tell you that it has been rough, and at times extremely tempestuous. Especially did we find it so when the rascally bushrangers attempted to smoke us out, and also when we threw them off the trail by means of a first cla.s.s ghost."

"A ghost!" replied Fred, looking first at Mr. Brown and then at me, as though we were quizzing him.

"Yes, he was a first cla.s.s ghost, and no mistake," replied Mr. Brown, without moving a muscle of his face.

"Bah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Fred, with disdain.

"This is the very expression that we used when we were satisfied that the ghost was disposed to help us," I replied.

"Will you explain yourselves, or must I resort to extremities?" Fred exclaimed.

"Well, put the money in the safe, and then we will light our pipes, and repeat the history of our journey."

Fred hastened to comply, and while we were in the act of filling the store with tobacco smoke, we heard a commotion in front of our door, and the next instant the police commissioner entered without the formality of knocking.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," he said, "for my early visit, but I have weighty matters on hand, and have no time to lose."

We offered him a chair, but he declined the courtesy. We saw that he was ill at ease in the presence of the ex-inspector, and we rather enjoyed it than otherwise. As for Mr. Brown, he smoked his pipe with most admirable nonchalance, and appeared unconscious of the presence of his enemy.

"The fact of the matter is, gentlemen," the commissioner went on to say, "government has need of all its friends at the present time, for misguided men are plotting against its stability. The silly things will be crushed in the end; but our great desire is to make such a show of strength that no blood will be shed. Humanity dictates such a course, and I think that it will meet the approval of the governor and his advisers."

"Go on, sir," remarked Fred, seeing that the commissioner paused, as though uncertain what to say next.

"I thought of requesting you two gentlemen to volunteer your services as my aids, and if you comply, I will see that government is informed of the fact, and that you receive some substantial reward."

"In making the request I suppose that you think we shall be the means of enlisting a large portion of the American population of Ballarat into the service of the crown?"

The commissioner acknowledged, after some hesitancy, that such was his calculation.

"We shall have to decline your flattering offer," Fred said, firmly. "We have no desire to incur the hatred of the miners of Ballarat by appearing as oppressors. If you proposed an expedition against bushrangers we should be happy to comply with your wishes. As it is, we cannot."

The commissioner did not say a single word. He bowed rather stiffly, and then turned and left the store, and the next moment we heard him urging his horse through the street as though he was in a hurry to reach a certain point without loss of time.

CHAPTER Lx.x.xI.

STEEL SPRING IN THE FIELD.--ATTEMPT OF THE COMMISSIONER TO CONFISCATE OUR HORSES.

"I don't want to be severe in my language," Mr. Brown said, as he listened to the receding steps of the commissioner, "but in my opinion a more thorough d----d scoundrel don't exist than that same commissioner, who just set a trap for you, and caught nothing."

"In that opinion I will agree most heartily," replied Fred; "he imagines that we possess some influence over our countrymen, and he wished, by a little flattery, and a lucrative position, to attach us to his party. We will have nothing to do with the quarrel, but endeavor to take care of our property and our lives by keeping out of the fight, if, unfortunately, there is one."

While Fred was speaking, a smart, intelligent man, named Ross, who was regarded as the head of the rebellious movement, entered the store.

"I have made an early call," he said, "but not for the purpose of trading. The fact of it is, I heard it reported last night--in what manner is of little consequence--that you, gentlemen, were to be offered an official position under the commissioner. I chanced to see that gentleman when he left your premises, a few minutes since, and I thought that there might be color for the rumor. It is for the miners' interest and your own that the report should be contradicted, or else confirmed.

I come to you as a friend, to ask which side you espouse. If you think that the miners are wrong, do not hesitate to say so, for I may then be enabled to render you some a.s.sistance, not by advice alone, but in a practical manner."

"If we thought your party was wrong, be a.s.sured that we should say so without equivocation," replied Fred; "we do not wish to take part in the struggle that is about to take place, and rest satisfied that we shall not, unless obliged to defend our property. If the commissioner has made a proposition to us--and I don't say that he has--be a.s.sured that we have not accepted it, and would not under any consideration whatever. If a similar offer was made by your party, it would meet with the same consideration. We are Americans, and strangers to the soil, and if we can remain neutral we shall. Our countrymen are their own masters, and can do as they please. If our advice was asked, we should tell them to keep to work, and out of harm's way. Is our position explicit enough?"

"I am satisfied, and will so state to those with whom I am connected,"

Mr. Ross replied, offering his hand in token of his friendship; "I must say there was some talk of the rash and ignorant, last night, to set fire to your store. I managed, by conciliating measures, to induce them to postpone all action until I was satisfied that you were with the government in feeling."

"If that is the manner in which the struggle is to be carried on,"

remarked Fred, "be a.s.sured that you will fail in your endeavors to obtain justice. No cause ever yet prospered where the torch of an incendiary was invoked to burn and destroy wantonly. Hearts that sympathize with you now would soon become alienated, and turn to the government for protection."

"I feel the force of your remarks," replied Mr. Ross, in a sorrowful tone, "and I am aware that they are just; but what can I do? I am considered at the head of the dissatisfied miners, yet I have no more real control over them than I have over you at this moment. They are undisciplined, and fierce as young bears anxious for a taste of blood.

If I counsel honorable resistance, I am laughed at; if I request moderation, I am accused of cowardice. What can I do with such men as these?"

"We cannot advise, for our advice would not be taken," replied Fred; "but if I was placed in your position I know what I should do."

"Name it," said Ross, eagerly.