Tom Gerrard Part 24

Gerrard rose and made his escape to the door, then he turned.

"I'll think it over, you match-making creature," and then he went off to the stockyard, apparently unconcerned, but secretly delighted at what his sister had told him, and she smiled to herself, for she knew that when he spoke of thinking about a matter, he had already decided.

Black Bluff Creek was a purely alluvial gold-field, and was in the very zenith of its prosperity when, towards sunset, Randolph Aulain looked down upon it from an ironstone ridge a mile distant from the workings.

It had been given its name on account of a peculiar formation of black rock, which rose abruptly from the alluvial plain, and extended for nearly two miles along and almost parallel with the creek, from the bed of which so much gold was being won by two hundred diggers. The top of this wall of rock was covered with a dense scrub, and presented a smooth, even surface of green, which even in the driest seasons never lost its verdant appearance. Some of the diggers had cleared away portions of the scrub, and erected sun-shelters of bark, under which they slept when their day's toils were over, and enjoyed the cool night breeze--free from the miasmatic steam of the valley five hundred feet below. Almost on the verge of the steep-to wall of rock was a large and regularly built "humpy," in which Douglas Fraser and Kate lived. The ascent to the summit of the bluff was by a narrow path that had been found by Kate in one of the many clefts riven in the side of the black-faced cliff, and her father's mates had so improved it with pick and shovel that Aulain could discern it quite easily.

As he walked his horse down into the camp, the diggers had just ceased work for the day, and with clay-stained and soddened garments were returning to their various tents or "humpies" of bark, all of them contentedly smoking, and ready for their usual supper of salt beef, damper, and tea. Many of the stalwart fellows recognised the ex-officer of Black Police, and bade him a pleasant "good evening, boss," and presently he was hailed by Sam Young, c.o.c.kney Smith, and others of Fraser's party. He dismounted and shook hands with Young, and asked him where was the "pub," as he intended to put up there for the night.

Young protested against his going there. "There it is, Mr Aulain, over there," and he pointed to the bush public house, a low, bark-roofed structure on the edge of the creek; "but you can't stay there to-night It's Sat.u.r.day, you see, and the boys will be there in force to-night, and you'll get no sleep. Besides, Mr Fraser would be real put out if you didn't go to him. He's just gone home. He and Miss Kate live up on the bluff."

"I know. I'll go and see them after supper, but I'd rather camp down here for to-night."

"Then come to our tent. There's plenty of room, and plenty of tucker, and any amount of gra.s.s along the creek for your horses."

Aulain accepted the offer, and after unsaddling and turning out his horses, he was provided with a piece of soap, an alleged towel, and a bucket of water, and made a hasty wash in company with Young and his mates. Then came supper and the interchange of the usual mining news.

Two years before, not one of his present companions would have addressed him without the prefix of "Mister"; but now he was one of themselves, a digger, and would himself have felt awkward and uncomfortable if any one of them had had the lack of manners and good sense to "Mister" him.

Supper over he lit his pipe, and telling Young he would be back about ten and take a hand at euchre, he set out and took the mountain path to the summit of the bluff. It was a beautifully clear moonlight night--so clear that every leaf of the trees which stood on the more open sides of the rocky track showed out as if it were mid-day, and a bright sun was shining overhead.

When he was within sight of Fraser's dwelling, he heard two shots above him, and then Kate speaking.

"I've got four of the little villains, father."

The sound of her voice thrilled him, and he hastened his steps. In a few minutes he saw Douglas Fraser, who was seated outside smoking his after-supper pipe.

"How are you, Fraser?" he cried.

The big man sprang to his feet, and came towards him with outstretched hand.

"Aulain, by Jove! I _am_ pleased to see you again. I saw some one leading a pack-horse coming into the camp below, but never dreamt it was you. Come inside. Kate will be here in a few minutes. We have a bit of garden close by, and the confounded bandicoots and paddymelons ravage it at nights, and she has just been knocking some over. She will be delighted to see you."

CHAPTER XXVI

Kate was _not_ pleased to see Aulain, but did not show it; for she guessed why he had come, and could not but feel a little frightened. But after a little while she felt more at her ease, when he began to tell her father and herself of his mining experiences, and said laughingly that malarial fever was not half as bad as gold fever.

"You see," he said, turning to Kate, "the one only takes possession of your body: the other takes your soul as well. The more gold you get, the more you want; and one does not feel that he has a corporeal existence at all when he turns up a fifty or sixty ounce nugget--as I did on three or four occasions. You feel as if you belonged to another--a more glorious world; and before you, you see the open, shining gates of the bright City of Fortune."

The grizzled ex-judge laughed. "You have missed your vocation in life, Aulain. Man, you're a poet But I know the feeling, and so does Kate.

Well, I am pleased that you have had such luck."

"And so am I," said Kate incautiously, "and I wish you better luck still at the new rush at Cape Grenville; but I think what has pleased me most, Mr Aulain, is that you have left the Native Police. Do you know that when the escort was here a few weeks ago with ten black troopers, and your successor came here to see us, I could hardly be civil to him, although he was very nice, and gave us some very late newspapers--only two months old."

"The Black Police are certainly your _betes noire_, Kate," said her father with a smile, as he pushed the bottle of whisky towards his guest.

"They are, dad. They are very especial black beetles to me--beetles with Snider rifles and murderous tomahawks for shooting and cutting down women and children."

Aulain's dark face flushed, and Kate reddened too, for she was sorry she had spoken so hastily. Then, to her relief, there sounded a sudden outburst of barking from Fraser's kangaroo dogs.

"Oh, those horrid paddy melons and bandicoots at the garden again!" and she rose and seized her gun.

"May I come and have a shot, too?" said Aulain.

"Do. It is as clear as noon-day. Take father's gun, Mr Aulain. I have plenty of cartridges in my pocket."

They stepped out together into the brilliant moonlight, and then Kate, driving the dogs away, led the way to the garden--a small cleared s.p.a.ce enclosed with a brush fence. Peering over the top, the girl saw more than a dozen of the energetic little rodents busily engaged in their work of destruction. Indicating those at which she intended to fire, she motioned to Aulain to shoot at a group which were further away, and occupied in rooting up and devouring sweet potatoes. They fired together, and three or four of the creatures rolled over, dead. The rest scampered off.

"They will come back in ten or fifteen minutes," said Kate; "shall we wait? See, there is a good place, under that silver leaf ironbark, where it is rather dark. There is a log seat there."

Aulain eagerly a.s.sented. This would give him the opportunity to which he had been looking forward.

As soon as they were seated he took Kate's gun from her hand, and leant it with his own against the bole of the tree.

"Kate," he said, speaking very quickly, "I am glad to have this chance of speaking to you alone. I want to ask your forgiveness for that letter I wrote when----"

"I did forgive you, long ago, Randolph. I was very, very angry when I read it, and I daresay you too were angry when you wrote such cruel things to me, but then"--and she smiled--"you have such a very hasty temper."

He placed his hand on hers. "Only you can chasten it, Kate. And now you know why I have come to Black Bluff."

"It is very good of you, Randolph, but, as I have said, I forgave you long ago, and I am sorry that you have come so far just to tell me that you are sorry for what occurred, although both father and I are sincerely glad to see you."

"Ah, Kate! You don't understand what I mean. In asking for your forgiveness I ask for your love. I came here to ask you to be my wife."

"Don't, please, Randolph," and she drew herself away from him. "I cannot marry you. I like you--I always liked you--but please do not say anything more."

"Kate," and the man's voice shook, "you cared for me once. Forget my mad, angry letter, and----"

"I _have_ forgotten it. Did I not say so? But please do not again ask me to marry you. Come, let us go back to the house. You will only make me miserable--or else angry."

"Why have you changed so towards me?" he asked quickly.

"I have not changed in any way towards you," she answered emphatically with a slight accent of anger in her tones. "Please do not say anything more. Let us go in," and she rose.

"Kate," he said pleadingly, and he placed his hand on her arm gently, "just listen to me for a minute. I love you. I will do all that a man can to make you happy. I have left the Native Police, and I am now fairly well off----"

She made a swift gesture. "For your sake I am pleased--very pleased--that you have left the Police, and have made money. But, Randolph," and though she was frightened at the suppressed vehemence in his voice, and the almost fierce look of his dark, deep-set eyes, she smiled as she put her hand on his, "please don't think that--that--money, I mean--would make any difference to me. Come, let us go back to father. I am sure he wants you to play chess."

Aulain's face terrified her. He had lost control of himself, and his hand closed around her wrist.

"So you throw me over?" he said in almost savage tones.

"'Throw you over'! How dare you say such a thing to me!" and she tore her hand away from him, and faced him with blazing anger in her eyes.

"What have I ever said or done that you can speak to me like this?"

"I know who has come between us----"

"Between us! What do you mean?" she cried scornfully. "What has there ever been 'between us'? And who do you mean?"