The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 75

"Sartainly. This 'ere island is rich--more gold is exported than from California--immense droves of sheep is scattered all over it, and all kinds of garden stuff will grow in abundance, if only planted. You understand me now, don't you?"

"I am still in the dark,"' replied Fred, trying hard to refrain from a smile at the mention of "garden stuff."

The two visitors again exchanged glances, when Charley sank his voice still lower.

"What do you think of annexation, hey?"

"What, annex Australia to the United States?" we exclaimed, in astonishment.

"Hush! Don't blart it out in that way, 'cos the thing is a secret as yet. We have got to work to bring the thing 'bout, but it can be done."

"And, pray, in what manner?" we asked, somewhat amused to find that even Australia was not safe from the Yankee's covetousness.

"In this 'ere manner. The Britishers feel riled at the idea of paying taxes on mining, and when we tell 'em that in California every body can dig as long as they darn please, without paying a dime, they feel madder than ever. Of course, we don't check that 'ere feeling at all. O, no; we stirs 'em up, and preaches how great a blessing it is to belong to a free and enlightened government like the United States of America."

"Well, go on and explain the whole method."

"I'm coming on as fast as I can. By and by the fellers round here say that we won't pay any more tax, and then the government says you shall, and tell the sogers to collect it; and while they is doing that, some miner resists and is killed, and then we have something to work upon, and, we begin to stir people up by telling 'em how badly we've been treated; and then a soger gets knocked on the head by some lucky accident, and we have a fight with the red coats, and lick 'em, and then war is declared between us, and at it we go for a few months, till we have driven every red coat out of the country, and then declare that it is a republic, and that we'll do as we please."

"Why, this is treason," we exclaimed, amazed at his audacity.

"I know that old Ben Franklin, Geo. Washington, and others were called traitors for talking in the same way during the revolution, but their cause was just and triumphed at last," replied Charley, dogmatically.

"But you don't compare your sufferings and oppression to that which our revolutionary fathers bore, do you?"

"I don't know 'bout that. We is taxed, and so were the old fellers that we read about who fought and died for our benefit, and I think we ain't worthy of the name of Yankees unless we resist all taxes!"

"But suppose that the English government should feel inclined to yield and vacate the island, leaving the people of Australia to make laws for themselves, what course should you pursue?"

"Do?" replied our ardent friend, without a moment's hesitation, "appoint the proper officers, elect a president, and have a senate and house of representatives, jist as they do at Washington."

"And what then?" we inquired.

"Why, after we had got to going we'd send a feller, and I know one who would do first rate, to the United States, and after playing our keerds putty well, we'd agree to annex Australia to the United States, and we'd do it, too, by thunder."

We could hardly retain our countenances long enough to listen to the splendid burst of expectation which Charley had dreamed upon so long, that he really fancied his project was practicable. Conquest first, and annexation afterwards, is the theme upon which Americans harp when in strange lands.

"You don't know the feller that I have in my mind's eye!" Charley said, after a few minutes' silence.

"No, I am not acquainted with any of my countrymen here at Ballarat,"

Fred replied, with a vacant look.

"The fellow that I know hain't bin here in Ballarat a great while."

"Indeed."

"Yes; and though I don't know your name, I reckon you'd do the trick putty neat."

"O," answered Fred, with a smile, "it's me that is to be honored with so delicate a mission, is it? To what am I indebted for the selection?"

"Wall, we want your help to stir the folks up, and no mistake. Me and Ben have been and talked the matter over, and we've agreed to let you have that 'ere office, if you will back us up; Ben is to do a good part of the fighting, and I'm to negotiate."

"We will take your proposition into consideration. But there is one thing that you have forgotten. What offices are my two friends here to get?"

"O, we'll make 'em senators, or somethin' of that sort. They shall be cared for in some way or other."

I could only bow my thanks to the kind gentleman, but before I could reply, the inspector joined us.

"Ah, Ben, you and Charley here," he said, in a careless way. "How does the indignation meetings and the pet.i.tions get along?"

"Wall, we have another meetin' to-night, and I think that it will be a rouser. We shall make ourselves heard yet, Mr. Brown."

"I have no doubt that you will, but it will be in a different manner from what you antic.i.p.ate. Let me advise moderation, or there may be trouble."

"There kin be a muss if we is disregarded, and made to pay for what we don't have," answered Ben, sullenly; and with that shot the Americans left the tent.

"Of all the unreasonable brutes that I ever encountered, the miners of Ballarat appear to be the worst," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Brown. "That fellow, Charley, has not worked ten weeks in the mines, and yet he talks as glibly of the evils of taxation as though the government was wringing the last shilling from his possession. He is a pot house wrangler, as we call them in England, and is a positive nuisance at Ballarat"

Mr. Brown appeared to be disgusted with our countryman, for he displayed more temper than we had seen since we had made his acquaintance.

"But the miners have some reason for complaint," I said. "Taxation without representation is wrong, and has occasioned much ill feeling and bloodshed."

"True; but without the present tax, how can government support a police force, and send gold to the cities under the escort of soldiers? How can the hospitals at Sydney and Melbourne, always filled with disabled miners, be kept open, and how can the roads be kept clear of bushrangers? The tax is not unreasonable per month, and yet through its collection see how much government is enabled to do? All goes to the benefit of the miner, and every pound is expended for his protection or comfort. As far as representation in our House of a.s.sembly is concerned, I'm certainly in favor of it; but just show me how we are to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion regarding the number of members Ballarat is ent.i.tled to. I've been here ever since the mines were discovered, and I can't tell. To-day there may be fifteen thousand, and to-morrow not ten.

People are coming and going continually. They change from mine to mine at every rumor, and I a.s.sure you that change is not beneficial to their financial affairs."

"In that case we shall have to do a cash business when we open our store," Fred said, with a smile.

"Of course. It will never do to give credit to strangers. But while speaking of stores, let me inform you that I have made a few arrangements in your behalf. I have secured a fine location for you, and spoken to a man who is desirous of selling a suitable building."

"And the price?" we asked.

"Is reasonable beyond all my expectations. The owner is homesick, and will not haggle about a few pounds."

"Why cannot we look at the store this afternoon, and decide whether we will take it or not? It will save time."

"Come, then; I have no objections."

We followed the inspector through the most thickly-settled part of the town, and at length stopped before a good-sized frame building, with the roof and sides covered with sail cloth and common cotton. The man who called himself the proprietor, was an Englishman, suffering under a severe attack of rheumatism, and therefore inclined to exclaim loudly against the mines, and Ballarat in particular. The few articles which he had in his store were old and unworthy of purchase.

We examined the premises, and found, according to our California experience, that we could take up our quarters there, and with a little trouble, make the building water proof. There was room also for an addition to be made in case it was necessary, and as the place was easy of access, we concluded we could do no better than strike a bargain, and secure the building as soon as possible. This we were the better able to do through a few suggestions which Smith let fall concerning the severity of a wet season, and the danger of rheumatic people remaining at the mines during its continuance.

For a hundred pounds in cash, we were put in complete possession of not only the store, but all it contained, including a very good stove, of a Ma.s.sachusetts man's make, and sent to Australia on speculation--three or four pots and kettles--a number of cracked dishes, very dirty--weights and scales, both large and small, and which, we afterwards found, were so arranged that the buyer got about two-thirds of what he paid for, while the weights for purchasing gold dust were a little too heavy to accord with strict honesty--barrels containing remnants of articles of not much use to any one, besides other things which we did not make any account of.

We made a bargain that we should take possession of the premises on the next day, and after taking a bill of sale of the articles purchased, with the bold signature of Mr. Brown as a witness of the transaction, we returned to our tent, and thought that our labors for the day were over. In this, we were unhappily disappointed, for, to our extreme amus.e.m.e.nt, a dozen or twenty persons were seated in the vicinity of our temporary home, and a more wretched, woe-begone set I never saw in my life.

"Hullo! what is the meaning of this?" I asked in surprise, as I surveyed the crowd.

"We've come to be doctored by you," said an Irishman, exposing his hand, wrapped in a dirty bandage.