The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 158

"Don't he, though!" exclaimed Steel Spring, winking both his eyes violently.

"What are his plans?" I asked.

"Vell, 'tain't hardly right in me to tell 'em," the fellow said, as though he didn't want to reveal all that he knew, although I could see that he was anxious to, "but the commissioner has sent out men to mislead the party vot has gone to stop the artillery, and they vill get on another road and not come back for two or three days. The Yankee chaps vid their rifles 'ave gone vid the green vons, and now the colonel don't care an old b.u.t.ton for the rest. An attack vill be made to-night at one o'clock, but don't tell that I said so."

We did not promise a compliance with his request, and after a liberal drink of whiskey Steel Spring left us to plot mischief, and to steal whatever he could lay his hands on during the melee.

We held a short counsel, and then resolved that, as the time was near at hand when the attack was contemplated, we would risk our lives in witnessing it, and, if possible, render some a.s.sistance to the injured, whether miners or soldiers. We locked up our gold in the safe, and then started for Gravel Pit Hill. The streets were silent and deserted. Not a policeman wearing a blue coat was to be seen until we entered the square where the palisades were erected, and there we found about five hundred men drawn up in line, silent and immovable, their muskets gleaming by the starlight, awaiting but the order to open a volley upon the poor fellows who were cooped up behind the timber, full of pluck, yet hardly prepared to meet so many disciplined men, and hoping that only a menace was intended.

"Who comes there?" shouted a sentry, as we approached.

"Friends," I replied.

"Well, friends, stand back and keep out of sight, or you'll lose the number of your mess," the soldier added, jocosely.

We had no desire for such a calamity, and therefore retired to another part of the hill, and managed to secrete ourselves from observation by keeping within the shadow of a friendly tree.

We had not been in our position more than fifteen minutes when we heard a clash of arms, and the sound of many feet in motion. The soldiers were formed in two columns, and were rushing with headlong speed towards the palisades.

The movement was so sudden that the miners were entirely unprepared.

Many of them were asleep, and others had laid their guns aside, and were at work strengthening the fortifications when the soldiers commenced the attack. A number of the bravest raised a shout and discharged their muskets at the approaching columns, but the soldiers did not falter.

They answered the cheer of the miners with a yell, at the sound of which many of the young men became panic-stricken, threw down their arms, and fled for their lives.

Amid the uproar I could hear the loud voice of Ross urging his men to stand to their posts firmly and fight to the last, and a few obeyed, and poured straggling volleys upon the red coats. Occasionally I could hear the sharp crack of the American rifle, and I felt sorry to think that my countrymen were fighting against men who would show them no mercy if victory perched upon the banner of the government officials.

Cheer after cheer both parties gave, and then there was heard the sound of axes and the placing of scaling ladders, as the soldiers gained the palisades.

"On them, bullies!" shouted a voice, which I recognized as Colonel Kellum's; "show the d----d rebels no quarter! Kill, kill, kill!"

The soldiers had got their blood up, and responded to the barbarous orders with a yell like famished tigers on the scent of blood. The timbers were torn away, and in rushed the disciplined men, firing volley after volley upon all who met their view. We could hear the groans of the wounded, and shrieks of the dying, until at last the firing ceased for the want of victims, many having made their escape.

"Do you surrender?" we heard the colonel shout; and although we could not see whom he addressed, we suspected that Ross and his boldest adherents were making a stand in the enclosure.

"Let us try and save them," cried Fred; and without listening to our warning, he started towards the palisade, followed close by Mr. Brown, Smith, and myself.

The soldiers took but little notice of us, thinking that we were government officials; so we worked our way by them until we reached the spot where Colonel Kellum was standing, surrounded by his officers.

"Do the d----d rebels surrender?" the colonel repeated, just as we could witness the proceedings.

"Here's the leader of 'em, sir, that says he will," cried two or three soldiers, escorting Ross towards the colonel.

"The leader, hey! Bring him here," was the command.

Ross walked firmly towards his conqueror, and stopped when within a few paces.

"Are you the leader of these ragam.u.f.fins?" demanded Kellum, arrogantly.

"I was the leader of the miners, sir," Ross replied, firmly.

"You own it, do you? Hand me your gun."

Ross complied with the command.

"Is it loaded?" the colonel asked.

"Yes, sir," was the brief response.

"Then I will discharge it for you," the military despot said.

He c.o.c.ked the piece, placed it within two feet of the Canadian's breast, and fired. The unhappy man sprang into the air, threw his arms wildly over his head, and fell a corpse, a bullet having entered his heart.

CHAPTER Lx.x.xIII.

ARREST OF FRED.--TRIP TO MELBOURNE, AND ITS RESULTS.

There was a cry of horror at the atrocity of the deed; not from any of the officers who were present, but from the soldiers, who were not used to warfare of that description.

"O, cowardly deed," cried Fred, who could not prevent giving expression to his feelings.

"Ha! what was that?" roared the colonel, turning towards us.

I endeavored to drag Fred from the scene, but he resisted my efforts stoutly.

"I say that to shoot a prisoner in cold blood is murder, and none but a base coward would resort to such an act," cried Fred, raising his voice.

"Secure that man," roared the colonel; but not a soldier stirred to enforce the order.

"In the name of G.o.d, make your escape," whispered Mr. Brown; but Fred disdained to fly.

"Will no one obey me?" roared the colonel, turning to his officers. "Do you refuse to do your duty? By G----, I'll break every man in the regiment, unless you are a little more prompt. Arrest that man, sirs, and bring him before me," he continued, turning to his officers.

They obeyed, but unwillingly, and moved so slowly that Fred could easily have escaped had he been so disposed. I sought to urge him to dodge behind the soldiers, but he sternly refused; and when the officers surrounded him, he walked with a firm step towards the tyrant, and without suffering a hand to be laid upon his shoulder.

"You find fault with the method which I resort to to punish rebellion, do you?" demanded the colonel, with a savage laugh.

"If it was with my last breath, I would protest against so cowardly an outrage," replied Fred, with all the contempt that he could a.s.sume.

"Hullo! I know that voice," cried Kellum, starting forward, and pulling Fred's cap from his face. "D----n me, if I didn't think so," he continued. "You are the grocer that dared to raise your hand against me yesterday morning. Iron him, and away with him to the barracks."

"For what crime, sir?" I asked, starting forward.

"For rebellion," shouted the colonel. "He has dared to interfere with the army of Her Majesty, while suppressing treason."

"He came here to a.s.sist the wounded, and had no intention of interfering with the soldiers," I said.

"Away with you, or I'll lock you up, and send you to Melbourne for trial, with your partymen. Go."