Part 6 (1/2)
he said to hi on his horse towards the tree under which the seeestures became more vehement, and, as he continued to advance, a loud, unearthly shriek rang through the forest, and the unhappy maniac, for such without doubt he was, fled away into its depths, his cries echoing arew faint in the distance This incident did not contribute toout in that wild spot pleasant Still, James Gilpin had no choice, and his mind was too well trained to allow him to be made anxious by unnecessary apprehensions
The only thing he dreaded was the possibility of the , and, perhaps, should he drop asleep, co had ceased, and having tethered his horse in a grassy spot, where the aniht hi a fire Under the trees there was no lack of fuel, and with the last reh to serve hi Under the lee side of the trees, also, he scraped together enough dry leaves and ss and bark to raise a blaze and dry the ood He looked up very frequently, as was natural, to ascertain that the unpowder he quickly raised a blaze; his kettle was boiling, hisup, while his blanket and clothes were drying; and had it not been for the spectre he had seen, he would have been well content with his lot,--not that he much feared what the poor creature could do to hiht rush out on him which was so painful By the look of the sky he saw that the weather was still unsettled, and the state of the atht still beHe consequently considered it ireater shelter under the trees His clothes and blankets were now tolerably dry, and having shi+fted the tether of his horse, that the aniht have fresh food, he wrapped himself up, with his feet to the fire and his head on his saddle-bags to seek that rest of which he stood so much in need
He, of course, intended to keep his eyes open, and turned in the direction where the poor ht, however, have been expected, he closed them and fell fast asleep Wearinesssoundly He was drea, it seemed, all the time; and his dreaure of the maniac was constantly before him, while his unearthly cries resounded in his ears
His chief idea was that he was engaged in a desperate struggle to get out of so torrent, now cli for his life across a boundless plain; thehi the wild beasts, or following hies across the plain A loud noise sounded in his ear It was a peal of thunder The stor with redoubled fury He started up to secure his horse, lest the frightened animal should break loose and escape into the depths of the forest Heashes only remained of his fire, which the rain would soon quench, unless a supply of fresh ere added He felt for some he had placed in readiness, and threw it on the ashes As he did so, a vivid flash of lightning lit up the forest opening, and by its light he saith a glea axe uplifted in his hand, the wretchedto his feet, seizing his rifle, when again all was darkness
”Stand back, whoever you are, or Ion one side, away fro
There was the sound of feet, as if a person was springing over the ground, a shriek, and the crash of a weapon descending Yes, he was certain it had struck his saddle-bags The next instant, the wood igniting on the fire, a fla across the glade in the direction of the old tree, where he had at first appeared Heca course froe tree, which was riven into several portions, and its knotted limbs scattered around The thunder at the same moment crashed and rattled with almost terrific sound He seized the tether rope of his horse, as the aniround, was about to dash off through the forest The poor creature stood as his hand stroked its head, but tre round as he did so for his late assailant, but the reatest difficulty in keeping his horse quiet; for the stor as before, the rain cahtning flashed; the thunder roared and rattled, and the rending of boughs, and the crashi+ng of falling trees was heard on every side, warning hi the saddled his horse and thrown his blanket over his shoulders, he e wood on his fire, and keeping a vigilant watch for the approach of the ht must have an end The storm ceased coht which most attracted his attention was the blackened stue tree which had stood there the previous evening--the lade He approached it Under one of the limbs lay a human form--it was the maniac's body; life was extinct He exaard by starvation and exposure, and distorted by his violent death, he recognised the, the outlaw Basham A small black mark on one side of his head showed that he had been struck by the electric fluid, and that his death must have been instantaneous, and must have immediately followed the attempt on his life To bury the body of the wretchedthe heavier boughs of the trees torn off by the storm over it and leave it thus ento sun showed him the direction he should pursue, and in half an hour he was out of the wood, and had regained the track hich he was acquainted He reached a station in time for breakfast, when he narrated to the occupant what had occurred, and learned fro for food
A rest of a few hours restored Ja out as he had intended, he was glad to take shelter that night in another squatter's hut It was thus that the traveller in those days was able to traverse the province fro food and shelter, and a welcoht call He was most cordially received at Prentiss Tohere he arrived late in the evening; but he went to a house ofOld Mr Prentiss, under the belief that his losses were far greater than was the case, and that the whole country was about to be ruined, had sunk broken-hearted into the grave He had trusted in riches, and they had failed hi around him had seized his eldest son, who had the sa over the colony
Notwithstanding this, there was sunlight in the dwelling: there could not fail to be so, Jaht, where fanny and Emily Prentiss were to be found They received him as an old and valued friend, and expressed their sorrow that his brother could not have accompanied him He naturally expected that they would complain of the dulness of the life they aieties and amusements they had left behind in Sydney; but, on the contrary, they see escaped fro in the country delighted the ample occupation They proposed to study the natural history of the district--the trees and flowers, the birds and insects, and the wild animals, of which there were not a few; then the far with the improvements in the house, into which they were about to arden was also to be forrown-up daughters, who lived soood horse-woht little of a ride of thirty miles or so There were likewise numerous fa religious or secular instruction A these they circulated books and tracts, and would often stop and read the Word of God to those ere unable to read themselves Thus every moment of each day was fully occupied James Gilpin could not fail to ad hostesses spent their time, or to discover how many objects of interest they had in common Even under ordinary circumstances he would have been interested in theer he remained in their society He was ofthe affairs connected with the property; and at length, with new hopes and aspirations, he returned to Warragong
The arrangements for the purchase of the cattle and sheep were soon complete The brothers did not even now lay out all their capital, but allowed a portion to remain in the bank to meet any unexpected dee on the increase of the stock under their charge; but this, owing to the ement of the persons employed, and the depredations of Basha-down process at length being no longer necessary, and the reatly improved, the increase was so much more rapid than at first, that they found the in Australia, the owners of very considerable flocks and herds, while no men in the district were more respected Their visits to Prentiss Town became more and more frequent; sometimes one brother went, so to leave the station together--and they both met with a reception which made them wish to return The Prentiss Town property was now divided, and the house inhabited by Mr Henry Prentiss was considerably nearer to them than that of his elder brother They also had secured so fixed on a site for a house in that direction, somewhat similar, but far more picturesque than the spot where the old hut stood, they built a hut which they could inhabit till their new residence could be erected, leaving Craven in charge of that up the streae enabled the, and to reach that of Mr Prentiss before sunset There was the house of a new settler about half-way, and several huts where refreshment could be obtained, so that their visits becaossip is not ienerally reported that the two Mr Gilpins were about to hters of Mr Henry Prentiss
CHAPTER SIX
The Gilpins had not attained to the prosperous condition they enjoyed without persevering toil and constant exertion both ofincidents had occurred; but, at the same time months passed by in a comparatively monotonous manner Every day they were in the saddle, sohtful that style of life may be--and that it has its attractions to most men there can be no doubt--men of educated minds must at ti for a change There can be but little social intercourse; some suffer ious instruction, and all must feel its absence Still, those who are fitted for a life in the bush, and have led it for any length of tiret, and return to it with satisfaction
Never had the Gilpins been more busy Their house was nearly finished
It was rather large for two bachelors, to be sure; but their ideas must have expanded of late They had much more assistance than formerly rendered by Craven, their most efficient and active overseer, and his assistant, Larry No one would have recognised the dispirited, alent man he had now become Gentlemanly even in his poverty, he had always been He now looked ainst the foe, than to keep sheep; yet to superintend the keeping of sheep he ell content He had greatly enlarged and i converted it indeed into a coetables in the rear
One of the greatest matters of interest to the bushman, who has loved relations in the old country, is the arrival of the post Often with treer, hands the packets are opened; soive satisfaction, and afford subjects for pleasant conversation for rieve the hearts of their readers Such had been the case with the Gilpins, some time back, when a letter with a broad black border arrived, and told them of the death of a father they had so es had taken place in their family circle
Their eldest brother had married; and their two sisters seemed doubtful, when they last heard from home, whether or not they should continue to reside with hiether in their nicely furnished dining-roo and the proportions of the apartment reminded them of the one they had loved so well in their far-off home in the old country A dray had just arrived fro in hand Eagerly the contents were glanced over
”Arthur, they are coirls, Jane and Susan--and Willie as an escort!” exclaireat satisfaction
”Oh! it will be delightful How pleased fanny and Emily will be!” cried Arthur
Indeed, no event could by possibility have caused the brothers more true pleasure; and, as may be supposed, it formed the subject for conversation for the res afterwards Of course it was necessary for James to ride over to Prentiss Town to announce the event
”As soon after they arrive as it can be arranged,” was the replyhis visit It see ratitude
When James returned home, Arthur was not happy till he could set off to Prentiss Town He must have put a question to Emily, not unlike that which James put to fanny
”Perhaps the sa after, Jaone also, but ith their own flocks and herds, and the nuht, scarcely fair to Craven to leave hi alone Of late, too, there had been reports of wonderful discoveries of gold--nuggets to rival those of California; and soone off to the region where the gold was reported to have been found, and it was feared that others ht follow James had not been in Sydney since his first arrival in the country The whole city was in a ferment There was no doubt of the truth of the reports of the discovery of gold, not only in one, but in several directions Nuggets of all sizes and heaps of gold-dust had already been brought in The gold fever had coes, ranks, and professions were fitting themselves out with knapsacks, spades, washers, and other apparatus for the gold-fields People were surprised that James tookfor me--an occupation for which I never had a fancy, except for an hour or two in ,” he answered ”If people rush out of the colony, as it is expected they will, the price of stock will rise very greatly, and I shall have aher than he expected, and he was not disappointed His heart throbbed with anxiety as he went down to the harbour to visit the shi+p on board which his sisters had taken their passage He singled theh they did not recognise the strongly built, bearded, and well-browned ht youth a few years before News of the gold discoveries had reached England soreat nuers--a e, all inspired, however, with the one ruling passion, an eager to grow rich suddenly There were young men--still mere lads--who had time before them to make themselves independent by steady industry; and old ht be supposed, had little else to do than to prepare for another world There were noether to worshi+p one God--Maer to supplant the other The Miss Gilpins told their brother that the universal subject of conversation during the voyage was gold, gold-digging, gold-washi+ng, gold-scraping
”Like the old ress' with his azing upwards,” remarked Jaets down in the world, and feels the want of the wealth he once possessed, it must be a severe trial to hi on the reater nuer to set off is; and every vehicle to be found was secured at a high price,down before half the journey was perfor it on foot; and of these, several of the either lost their way and died fro drohen crossing so carried down by the current The lions of Sydney were soon visited; and Jah spirits for Warragong He had a lightly-built covered waggon, with strong springs--the best style of vehicle for travelling in the bush The journey was perforreat ease and comfort; and there were so ers--the birds, beasts, reptiles, and scenery, the very look of the people, and the characters they met--that no one eary As may be supposed, they called at Prentiss Town on their way, and, of course, spent a few days there; and, naturally, Arthur arrived to escort thelish farht up than the Australian young ladies, educated in a school in Sydney They could teach them much connected with the dairy and numerous household duties, of which they had never heard Not that the Miss Gilpins were, in the slightest degree, less refined or less educated than their new friends Of course, the visit was to be returned; there was soht not very clearly have understood On the road, the party were met by Craven, well mounted, and dressed in the most approved fashi+on He came, as in duty bound, to escort his friends' sisters to their new abode
”And is this the hut you spoke of, dear brothers?” exclaihtful house! And this room, the very model of the dear old parlour We are sure you intended it”