she was glad she had had the resolution to say thus much before her feelings bad been tried too fur they had been greatly tried she would admit but though she was weak and silly she would soon get the better of it she hoped


moddle who had by this time become in the last degree maudlin and who wept abundantly infarrnd vnm tha riranviiiitt ntrnnnl t llnf


it ivah his mission to communicate to others the blight which had fallen on himself and that being a kind of unintentional vampire he had had miss pecksniff assigned to liim by the pates as victim number one


miss pecksniff con travelling this opinion as sinful moddle was goaded to ask whether she could be contented with a blighted heart and it appearing on further examination tbatsho could be


plighted his dismal troth which was accepted and re turned


he bore his good fortune with the utmost moderation


instead of being triumphant he shed more tears than he had ever been known to shed before and sobbing said oh what a day this has been i cant go back to the office this afternoon


oh what a ying day this has been good


gracious i l


bush life in australia


an original tale


chapter iv


i hate attempts at portait sketching par ticularly where men are concerned but as my travelling companion eastgate is as yet almost a stranger i must crave leave to de scribe him


it has already been indicated that he was blessed with length of limb and there was nothing in the rest of his manu facture to make this advantage appear un gainly


he was in short a fine dashing looking young man of twentyeight with curly brown hair dark blue eyes and a fresh complexion yet with an affectation of limp ness in his movements and a sort of hot house languor that appeared absolutely lu dicrous when contrasted with his evidently robust health and sound constitution


he constantly used an eyeglass though i had plenty of opportunities of knowing that his sight was particularly strong and keen


with a sound understanding fine taste and a heart even more noble and generous than i then knew his pride seemed to clothe him self as it were with affected effeminacy and commonplace apathy


such a character is by no means rare and often covers the best specimens of our common humanity


many a man with a more than ordinarily bright spark of immortality in his clay who is in nately conscious of something within him that is caviare to the general looks with such supreme contempt upon those pale blackbrowed marble representatives of the gloomy the beautiful and the ideal drawn by byron and his satirist but copyist bulwer that a dread of even selfridicule makes him shrink from the jnwavd prompt ings of his own spirit which he would fain persuade others and himself aro all hum bug


why charles my boy said harry you jump as if you thought that cobawn jack had got hold of you


to tell you the truth i replied i was just thinking of that worthy gentleman and his following


i am afraid we shall have troublesome work here for according to dicks account the wild blacks are numer ous and bloodthirsty


do you mean to say that you believe that fellows lies


why charley my ju


venile what a baby you must be


i could see that the oneeyed son of a gun was only poking fun at us just to enhance his own importance


his tale was perhaps remote ly founded upon a fact but his three hun dred blackfellows i take with a grain of salt like falstaff s rogues in buckram


well harry if he didnt work upon your fears he touched your sympathies for if i am not mistaken i saw something very like a tear in the corner of your eye at one time


rich cried harry with an explosion of laughter why my dear credulous friend i was trying hard to keep from laughing and if there was anything watery about the win dows of my soul it was only the result of that painful effort


but to come to matters of business will you join me in a glass of brandyandwater


though i have hardly had a wink all the trip it is impossible to sleep in that atmosphere of cockroaches and bilgewater below so i have come to join you in your stargazing vigil


the grog having been procured we paced up and down for some time in silence for there appeared a mutual disinclination to conversation


at length harry abruptly broke out


i wonder whether theyve a postoffice here


i dont know


said i but the skip per can tell us


at all events ho will take charge of our letters


hm that wont do he muttered


why what state plots or deep conspira cies can you be engaged in to be afraid of trusting old john


or can it be possible that the profound philosopher of antihumbug the worldbored harry eastgateis desir ous of entering into a tender correspondence after the manner of abelard and heloisa or perhaps werther and charlotte with some sydney fair one who pines for him in all the dreariness of waltz and ballroom while he pours out his lovelorn sorrow to the screech ing oppossum in thowilds of the clarence


i had gone too far for harry paused abruptly and seized my arm with a grasp so rough that a flash ofanger shot through me as i shook him off with violence and stepped back


charley said he in a moment i beg your pardon


brandy doesnt agree with me or i shouldnt be such an ass as to mind your nonsense


how can you think that i could be such a fool as you describe


the man who surrenders himself in any way to a wo man is tho most pitiful creature under the sun


too many of them believe me char ley are incapable of appreciating the very noblest devotion and it is not likely that i should mako myself so very ridiculous as to expect it


i fancied that there was in his tone some thing more like an attempt to elicit opinion than a wish to dogmatise so i replied that my knowledge of the subject was very limit ed and must bow to his experience that i much inclined to terrible dicks opinion that women were queer cattle and that as to heartlessness and coquetry i believed they were all alike in those respects


there you are wrong said he rather earnestly it is only necessary for a man to remember his mother or his sisters to make bim willing to grant exceptional cases for my part i do really believe that there are women in the world as farabove the faithless frivolous hollowhearted she devils in gauze whom you so often meet as that beautiful morning star is above the paltry gilt ball at our mast head though with them to converse may rarely be our lot


holloa said i whewl i would give five pounds if beau morris or jack haw kins could hear that model man about town harry eastgate spouting tender sentimen talism to the stars and quoting byron in tho wilderness threo hours after midnight


why man you aro improving


stand out now throw up your oyes elovate your right arm and coramenco ob that the desert were my dwelling place


let us havo the whole of it


oh ivo done said harrys laughing


it was tho brand and water that was talkiug not myself when the liquor is in the wit is out as dick says


there is an oidor axiom i roplied in vino oh for hoavons sake dont let us have that


if thero is any ono thing i dotost more than another it is the repetition of those musty sayings of the ancient soino of whom were the greatest muffs and humbugs that the world ever saw


i would undertake to confuto utterly the supposed wisdom of one half of their ti ash


for instance the saying you were about to perpetratewhy i havo known dozens of fellows who tolerably truthful whon sober becamo such cotuifotin led liars whon drunk that it was mpoisiblo to liston to them with patience


well prod whats tlu newt do curiors afloat sir said the mate who just now came ou deck


maa do wiadto wea


in a few minutes the silence of the early morning was broken by tho sharp


clink clinkclinkclinkclink of the iron clamp as tho windlass was hovo round and the anchor brought up


a light air from the eastward just barely filled the sails and the mary slowly left the south arm behind and proceeded on her way


the morning broezo from tho sea was chilly so after a mutual grasp of the hand in token that no illblood remained after our slight encounter harry and i turned into our bunks and were soon asleep


tho sun had been up and dressed long be


fore the steward aroused us to breakfast and when we adjourned as usual to the deck to make the preliminary part of our toilette a scene broke upon our view which though it will never fade from my own mind i utterly despair of conveying to tho reader


the cutter was at anchor in a long broad reach of the riverat this part nearly a mile across


close to us was another island but very much smaller than that at the south arm and so covered and heaped up with vines to the very topmast branches of all but the highest trees that it seemed like a summerhouse for the lord of the clarence whoever ho might be


flocks of wild pigeons were continually hurrying across from one shoro to tho other occasionally ac companied or followed by hundreds of screaming cockatoos who scattered them selves like big snow flakes along the tops of the high figtrees


innumerable birds kept up acontinuousbut not unmusical hum and from all parts of tho rivernear and afar carno the wongawongawongawonga notes which indicated tho soitary haunts of the peaceful bird so named from its cry


the broad smooth surface of the clarence reflected the blazing sun so dazzlingly that wo could not look upon it for many consecu tive seconds


on tho south bank just abreast of us a patch of open land at the edge of a scrub was occupied by a skeleton of a small vessel on the stocks a long barnlike building covered with bark and a fowbarkgunyas


this was the settlement


some horses and bullocks in hobbles were grazing at a little distance and about a dozen men were clustered together on the bank evidently not a little excited by the important event of our arrival


four or live sawyers boatsfrail structures of rough cedar which a good kick would knock a hole inwere already alongside and their worthy proprietors were engaged in deep con fabulation with terrible dick and his two subordinates


it is rather a prettylooking place said harry as we were at breakfast but awfully slow i know


youll have the best company in those parts said captain john


i hear that the commissioner has arrived


the who said i the commissioner of crown lands


this is the first time hes been here and the sawyers toll mo he has suffered great hard ships coming over from the mleay


and pray whereabouts may that be inquired harry


its the next river to thisabout a hun dred and fifty miles to the southard


you passed the heads of it at that smokylooking cape coining down


this major dounie the commissioner is a queer sort of an old chap they say


he belongs to that district but has been ordered over hero to put things to rights a bit


the sawyers have all been cutting the cedar without licenses and the commissioerhas orders to make them pay up


ho was nearly starved to death coming over and had a great battle with the blacks


they have brought in one a prisoner and have got him chained to a big tree over there


what said i do you mean to say thoy have a real live savage


hurrah


harry mako haste and let us have a look at him


breakfast was soon despatched and narry and i in honor of the commissioner donned our best black and prepared for shore


as we came on deck dicks local acquaintancesrough specimensof humanity enoughseemed to be highly tickled with our appearauce so much so that i saw my friend harry getting very red about the gills and half inclined to turn rusty


twig the black tiles said one fellow


hold onthem gents in tho black togs is clergymen remonstrated another


missionaries to the abiomgmos sug gested a third


hore you dick said harry calling our bushman to his side what do thoso im pudent scoundrels mean by their im pertinent remarks


why you see sir said dick trying hardly to preserve his gravity they dont dress in that way hero


if i might advise you gentlemen id say put on a red shirt and a cabbagetree hattheres plenty of em among the stores


what to pleaso those fellows said harry


id seo thom the remainder of his speech was lost as ho got over the side whither i followed him into the boat


personal criticisms would not have been very welcome at any time to two individuals who were disposed to esti mato their killing qualities as i and poor harry did ours in thoso days


but to be made fun of by such veritable guys as those fellows was too bad


one of them a short man not five foot high and nearly as broad as he was long had a board uko a thick scrubbing brush hiding every vestige of nose mouth and chin and only exhibit ing a dark and gloomy gap when he broke into a horse laugh at our expense


another a longbodied animal as rod as a fox and as rough as a badgerhad


no clothing but a pair of canvas trousers too short to roach below his calves and a tight dirty flannel lacket not long enough to cover his loins or his elbows


these were samples of tho rest and in spite of diclcs manifest endeavors to restrain thom they all kept up a filefire of offensive remarks as we blundered down the awkward sido ladder which bogrimed us with greaso and tar some of which was transferred from our gloves to our faces


a perfect yell of laughter as a parting salute put tho climax upon our indignation so standing up as the boat pulled away wo shook our fists as wo launched out at thom a volley of ener getic english fully within tho sphere of their comprehension


well said harry when wo both got tired of this kind of amusenent and were h ilf inclined to join in the laugh ourselves


if this is a sample of claronco civilization i shall expect to be jumping over the hills in six months from this time after tho manner of an old man kangiroo as dick calls it with about fortyeight pounds of a tail fas tened on as a rudder behind me


the sawyers are rough customers said captain john who was steering and no wonder fur thoy live almost uko black fellows themselves but boro wo aro goutlc mon jump ashore if you pluase


we wore rocoivod ou landing by a civil person attired much after tim fashion of our dick but with a cloth cap instead of the cabbagetree


this was mr thomastho principal man of the settlement and the owner and builder ol tho little vessel on the stocks


kooidos a few sawyers thore were assembled several mon in a semimilitary dross of dark brown cloth with foragecaps cirtouohboxes and sword belts and who drew up and gave us a military aalutc as wo passod thbq wore troopers of the border police a force organised chiefly from among those vuyicti ia th wjwy wlw hvi foi merly ljeen in the army and many of whom had been transported for military offences


a great deal of odium fell upon this body afterwards but from my own observation i am decidedly of opinion that the force wa gapablo of doing good service under efficient management


these men had como over from the mleay with the com missioner


at mr thomasinvitation we accompanied him towards his housethe long barnlike structure before mentioned


as we ap proached the building we observed a border policeman walking sentry with his carbine on his arm close to a large figtree around which were passed two strong bullock chains secured to two pairs of fetters which were fastened on the ancles of the black prisoner


i had seen a few dilapidated specimens of the australian aborigine about sydney but this was the first time that i had ever really beheld a wild man


tole continued


chapter li


surds new and brighter light upon the very dark place and con tains thb sequel of the isnteh paise op hq


jonas and his friend


the night had now come when the old clerk was to hedelivered over to his keepers in the midst of his guilty distractions jonas had not forgotten it


it was a part of his guilty state of mind to remember it for


on his nersistance in the scheme depended one of his precautions for his own safety


a hint a word from the old man uttered at such a moment in attentive ears might fire the train of sus picion and destroy him


his watchfulness of every avenue by which the discovery of hie guilt might be approached sharpened with his sense of the danger by which he was encompassed


with murder on his soul and iu innumerable alarms and terrors dragging at him night and day he would have repeated tlie crime if he had seen a path of safety stretching out beyond


it was in his punishment itwasiu his guilty condition


the very deed which his fears rendered iusupportable his fears would have impelled him to commit again


but keeping the old man close according to his design would serve his turd


his purpose was to escape when the firstalarm and wonder had bubsided aud when he could make the attempt without awakening instant suspicion


in the meanwhile these women would keep him quiet and if the talking humour came upon him would not he easily startled


he knew their trade


nor had he spoken idly when he said the old man should lie gauged


he had resolved to ensure his bilence and he looked to the end not the means


he had been rough and rude and cruel to the old nan all his life and violence was natural to his mind in connexion with him


he thai


be gagfred if he speaks and pinioned if he writes said jonub looking at him for they sat alone together


he is mad enough for that ill go through with it hush


still listening to every sound


he had listened ever since andit had not come yet


the exposure of the insurance office the flight of crimple and bullainy with the plunder and among the rest as he feared with his own bill which he had not found in the pocket book of the murdered man and which with mr pecksniffs had probably been remitted to one or other of hwm viuuifi


nuuo


u buc uciioslli vuk bankers his immense losses aud peril of being still called to account sb a partner in the broken firm all these things rose in his mind at one time and always hut he could not contemplate them


he wab well aware of their presence and of the rae discomfiture und despair they brought along with them but he thought


of iiis own controlling power and direction he thought of the one dread question only when would they find the body in the wood


he tried he tad never left off trying ntrtto forget it wa there for that was im possible but to forget to weary himadf by drawing vivid pictures of it in his fancy by going softly about it among the itavesl approaching it nearer und nearer through ii gap in the boughs and startling tlie very flies that were thickly sprinkled all ovet it like heaps of dried currants


his mind was fixed and fastened on the discoviry for intelligence of which be listened in tently to every cry und shout listened when any one came in or went out aid watched from the window the people nlio passed up nnd dun u the street and mis trusted his own looks and words


and i lie more hie thoughts were set upon tbe dis covery the stronger web the fascination which attracted them to the tiling itself lying alone in the wood


if he had been condemned to bear the body in his iirmi it could not have been more conslautly with him or a course of more monotonous and dismnl occupation than it was in this state of his mind


still he was not sorry


it was no con trition or remorse for what he had done that moved him it was nothing but nlirm for his own security


the vague conscious ness he possessed of having wrecked his fortune in the murderous venture intensi fied his hatred and revenge anil made him set the greater store by what he had gained


the man was dead nothing could undo that


he felt a triumph yet in the re flection


he had kept a jealous watch on chuffey ever since the deed seldom leaving him but on compulsion and then for as short intervals as possible


they were alone together now


it was twilight and the appointed time drew near at hand


jonas walked up and down the room


the old man sat in his accustomed comer


the slightest circumstance was matter of disquiet to tbe murderer and he was made uneasy at this time by the absence of his wife who had left home early in the after noon and had not returned yet


no ten but be had a misgiving that she might have been waylaid and tempted into something that would criminate him when the news came


for anything he knew she might have knocked nt the door of his room while he was away and discovered bis plot


confound her it was like her pale face to be wandering up and down the house


where was she now


f she went to her good friend mrs todgers said the old man when he asked the question with an angry oath


aye i to be sure


always stealing away into the company of that woman


she was no friend of his


who could tell what devils mischief they might hatch together


let her be fetched home directly


the old man muttering some wordssoftly rose as if he would have gone himself but jtfnas thrust him back into his chair with an impatient imprecation and sent a servant girl to fetch her


when he had charged her with her errand he walked to and fro again and never stopped till she came back which she did pretty soon the way being short and the woman having made good haste


well


where was she i had she come


no


she had left there full three hours


left there


alone


the messenger had not asked taking that for granted


curse you for a fool


bring candles she had scarcely left the room when the old clerk who had been unusually ob servant of him ever since he had asked about liis wife came suddenly upon him


give her up


cried the old man


come


give her up to me


tell me what you have done with her


quick


i have made no promises on that score


he laid his hands upon his collar as he spoke and grasped it tightly too


you shall not leave me i cried the old man


i am strong enough to cry out to the neighbours aud i will unless you give her up


give her up to me i jonas was so dismayed and conscience stricken that he had uot even hardihood enough to unclench tbe old mans hands with his own but stood looking at him bb well as he could in the darkness without moving a finger


it was as much as he could do to ask him what he meant


i will know what you have doue with her retorted chuffey


if you hurt a hair of her head you shall answer it


poor thing


where is she


ii ujf tuu uiu uiuuiuau t oaiu


u uuaoj


a low voice and with trembling lips


what bedlam fit has come upon you now v it is enough to make me mad seeing what i have seen iu this house


cried chuffey


where is my dear old masier where is his only son that i have nursed upon my knee a child where is she she who was the last she that ive seen pining day by day


and heard weeping in the dead of night


she was the last the lost of all my friends i heaven help me she ivas the very last


seeing that the tears were stealing down his face jonas mustered courage to unclench his hands and push him off before he answered did you hear me ask for her


did you hear me semi for her


how can i give you up what i havnt got idiot


ecod id give her up to you und welcome if i could and a precious pair youd be i if she has come to any harm cried chuffey mind


im old and silly but i have my memory sometimes and if she uui uumc vu auif jiuihi devil take you interrupted jonas but in a suppressed voice still what harm do you suppose sbe has come to


i know no more where she is than you do i wish i did


wait till she conies home and see she cant be long


will that content you


mind


exclaimed the old man


not a hair of her head


not a hair of her head ill used


i wont bear it


i i have borne it too long jonas


i am silent but i i i can speak


i


i i can speak


he stammered as he crept back to his chair and turned a threatening though a feeble look upon him


you can speak can you i thought jonas


so so well stop your speaking


its well i knew of this in good time


prevention is better than cure


tobe continued u our next


australian doubles


stickreranocksars histonr or mtl douiine


by lusiiinxoton erving


cial pter


swwing hoew the good people of mel bourne were mightily disturbed with the apprehension of


a siege anl made pre parations accordingly


john foster or vesey the artful as he was more commonly called having thus proved himself a true patriot and having done such signal service to his country by retiring from her councils some inconsiderate persons began to think that all danger was over and that they would have nothngto do but to go on money grubbing as before


but a number of more sagacious folks who knew a good deal better than that proved incontestably that a prodigious army of diggers hai been got together at balarat for the pur pose making a descent upon mel bourne robbing the banks and the churches burning the city killing the men and run ning off with the women


this mightv force it was alleged consisted chiefly of foreiners irishmen and other evil lis pose persons armed with all kinds of strange weapons and possessing no mercy and an unlimited supply of powder and ball


it was furtheremore ascertained that the insurgent army was led on by one colonel vern though how he came to be a colonel was never clearly understood till it turmed out that he had been in americahad there been naturalised and so becarnelike everybody else in the place who was not a judge a colonel as a matter of right and course


but how ever he not his colonelcy it was universally coacedeoi that he was a man of enormous stature and ferocity and capabe of eating a victorian riflenan of average size for breakfast without either difficulty or compunction


as the raimour of these facts reached the city it was unutniaously carried that somlething must be done


so much being admitted however all unanimity ceased and william the blulf or billy from barralool as lihe was officially called at the time was at his wits end before he had got well warm in his oflicial chair in consequence of the vast number of excel lent and patriotic suggestions which poured in upon him


and as it has been dit shrewdly remarked that a knowledge of r the individual is indispensable to a know b ledge of the species and that he who ca n not take care of one is nut fit to take care of many all of those who so obligingly r offered their aid and advice to william the bluff took care before hazarding their opinions to test the soundness of their unlderstandings by considering how their suggestions if carried out would affect themselves indicidually


iiaving thus ascertained their capacity for taking care of the individual they no longer hesitated to enlarge the sphere of their operations f and boldly to begin benefitting society


thus one good citizen strongly recom mended arming all the clerks in tie go vernment service with a new and curious


description of pistol whereof it turned out the had received a large consignment in


the very nick of time


another gentleman recommended fncuingin the government offices with a close fence of double three inch planking and as good luck would have it he was just in a position to prove himself a man of deeds as well as a man of words inasmuch as he could supply the state with any quantity of blue gurn sawn stuff of the precise scantling suitable to that kind of fortification


overwhelmed with scores of such noble and disinterested proposals billy the bluffatlength happily ihit upon the scheme of publicly announc ing that all such suggestions would be immediately taken into cojnsideration in the proper quarter after which nobody i thought of troubling him with any more projects and lie was left at peace to mak preparations for war


these the redoubtable william soon jman


unhappily the regular troops were s all away at the time but the vahour andi patriotism of the populace quickly suppliedi


the places of the scarletcoated defenders of the wbritish throne


true the volun teer rifle corps did not then occupy that matchless position and number in its ranks j those countless myriads which it now boasts since the green uniforms have been converted by the gallant fellows into gardenin and stable jackets and those gallant fellows themselves have with a word been converted into excellent artil lerymen


true


melbourne did not then t possess the gorgeous mounted yeomanry horsetail invincibles fire brigades and other military resources which have since k so startled russia and contributed not a little to the restoration of peace in europe a nevertheless the riflemen presented a trnly gallant appearance as headed by the ve teran hodgson they entered the field in omnibusses in gigs on foot and on b horseback and the majority of them smoking cigars


as they drew up in line and as responding to the word of com mand attention each warrior listened to the remarks of his neighbour with re doubled care they presented a truly mar tial appearance and justified the praises lavished upon the victorian irregulars


their height ranged from four feet six to six feet fobur ant as they stood in their little caps winking in the strong sunlight in it was remarked that those stiff harsh lines y which characterise the fighting machines of the british army when drawn out in battle array in no way disfigured the y ranks of the gallant corps


each man stood boldly for himself without merging his iridividuality or sacrificing his indeo spendence


e


the police armed to the teeth with ir truncheons and handcuffs and clad in capes of the most shining and waterproof a quality looked as if they could have taken up all the armies in the crimea is readily as an old applewvran and evinced by their appearan


r at it called upon to charge the in


its the case would not be one of coi on assault


s


but the jst numerous force and that which iy muse is pledged to celebrate with her most potent strains was that of the special constables


they poured down sfrom the shady retreat where the great to grimes lisped his numbersthey honoured in the breach the customs of the custom house and went forth rejoicing to fisght the battles of their counry in office hours g they were relieved from a post under the gallant mcrae to occupy a post in the is loyal army of victoria and instead of a stamping passing letters prepared to stamp it themselves with everlasting fame


d


but stupendous as the preparations were my readers do not need to be told that the ift great arm of modern warfare is artillery d and that therefore fortification to re y sist


it was more important than all it was accordingly resolved to fortify thoe jail and in this selection a fresh illustration is afforded o the skill and foresight ot the victorian conunandters


they perceived a at once that s renowned a general as co t lonel vern would be studious to cover his if retreat and that while the jail stood lihe could never feel comfortable on this score


of it was also iarel t that the natural arn tipathics of lus forces would go with hir ld in an attackl upon thalt barbarous institu at tion and therebfore tlhat notlingr was morm e to be expected than such an olperation


bo


after matured deliberation it was resolved that the jail should be fortified with bag in of sand anid the work of fortification went uh on with urnexamplld rapidity


an unto


ie ward accident however nearly sufficed to as sreul confusion in the camp scieged for a party of voluntors who were y out after sadtl coming upon a dray lotad us of bags that seemingly containel whal ig they wavnted took violent liossession of the ir sani and converted tlhemn to the purrplosee or of dlefeonce


it caino to light hoiriever that tile bags seized were the property oe d an eminent grocer who re e so indigtant at tlht hlie declared that inot a single special ig constable of themn shouldl ever get tick i from him again in conse uenice of the slilht m which ihadt been passed upon hiiu


tiis it sipread such confiusion tlhat the arniy wuuw le probibly have beeni deciumated tial not i thie pirompit assurancl that his propert would be restorcd ipresntly sat sfied thl sh rutiful sus dealer


but lo anothc difficulty arose for when conducted to th s rnmpart he was unable to distinguish i r bngs from the refht and wa s th crelo crrpekd o le atiffcd w ith cd equ lrlincr itl cn hi a tle it a iti s random


rfnally all preparations were completed and the gallant defenders awaited the ap proach ot the enemymelbourne punch


algernon de vere


chapter ii


as the guttering ranks of the victoria volunteer yeomanry poured into the yarraman their leader arrayed them with the utmost skill and promptitude


shoulderhumps standatease


right wheel


byfiles to the right march


haltsaid a stern voice and each order rapidly as it was given being obeyed with admirable precision the bushranger at once found retreat by the passage already described cut off from him by a double row of armed men who stood like lines of statues waiting farther orders


algernon folded his arms and his brow contracted with more than its usual dark meaning as he gazed upon the overwhelming number of his foes


slowly and scornfully his eye passed along the line and before that eagle glance even the veterans which it confronted quailed


caitiffs he at length said in a deep rich voice think ye that ye have trapped the lion in his den and that it now remains to ye but to enchain him or to pour in a volley from your shining barrels and lay him dead at your feet


i tull ye the iron that shall fetter him is not yet imported nor forged nor puddled nor smelted nor dug out of the bowels of the earth


as for deathand a withering smile played upon his lipsthink ye to affright me with that gloomy phantom


nav nay x hate ye despise ye scorn ye spit upon ye


death has from childhood been but the playmate of algernon de vere


as he uttered these words he drew liis gigantic form up to its full height and stood calmly awaiting his fate while kidnyfatima clasped her hands in speechless terror


again the stern voice of the leader of the yeomanry issued the words of command presentmake readyshoulderhumpsfire


kidnyfatimas despairing shriek was unheard in the succeeding ex plosion


the flame that issued from the weapons of the yeomanry actually scorched the face of algernon but strange to say when the storm offleaden hail had swept by he still stood unscathed


not a muscle of his countenance moved


he had too often when quite unarmed and even without so much as an umbrella passed beneath a shower of bullets to feel alarmed at such a time although he well knew that up to that moment member of tlie yeomanry had ever been known to miss his aim


it is probable that in the immeasurable depths of his scorn he would still have stood with folded arms aud contracted brow until the yeomanry had reloaded but that kidnyfatima suddenly losing consciousness fell against him with a mild scream


the sight of her lifeless form at once converted his passive scorn into indignant action


lifting her in his arms with no more apparent exertion than if her weight eight stone six had been a feather he glanced rapidly round for some weapon


his hand fell upon one of the enormous nuggets to which allusion has already been made


to hurl it at the head which stood most directly between him and the door was the work of thefcame instant


the massive lump of gold making as it were a following cannon off the head first struck on to that immediately beliind left a clear though narrow passage through those serried ranks


of this algernon at once availed himself


he darted lorwardwrenched the carbine out of the loosening grsp of the falling soldierand whirling it round brought to the earth all who stood within the radius of the deadly circle


springing to the doorway and only waiting long enough to light his pipe at one of the silver lamps to direct a glance of unutterable contempt upon the enemy and to exclaim in a tone of concentrated passion sold again he flew down the passage that led to the concealed entrance of the yarraman


the yeomanry who had in the meantime reloadedfollowed him as well as they could but they labouring under the disadvantages of topographical ignorance he gained rapidly upon them


at the mouth of the cave he found a trooper holding the leaders chargera magnificent bay mare


de vere felled the astonished warrior to the earthsprung with his lifeless freight in his arms upon the chargers backand plunging into the thicket made good his retreat just as the refreshing drops of a second shower of bullets fell harmlessly around him and told him that the yeomanry had emerged from the yarraman into the open air aud were already following like bloodhounds upon his track


after a short but bootless pursuit the leader of the yeomanry recalled his scattered forces and intimated his intention of abiding for the night in the yarraman


on reentering its walls the first care was bestowed upon those whom de vere had knocked on the head


fortunately it proved that they were all irishmen who being accustomed to that kind of entertainment from their youth were now rather the better than the worse for experiences which recalled vividly to their minds the national amusements of their own loved emerald isle


the gallantsoldiers withtha true inbtinct of old campaigners directly they found that there was death to mourn over among their comrades began to look around them for the materials for an evening meal


for some time they sought around the room in vain but amid all the gorgeous display which feasted their eyes there was nothing to to satisfy the more imperious cravings of appetite which had been sharpened by a long days ride from freemantlc


at length one of the yeomanry accidentally touched what seemed to be but the brassheaded nail by which was suspended a masterpiece by michael angelo the pressure communicating with some arttauyconcealed secret spring caused the wall beneath to fly open and the hux soldiers discovered with joy a wellfilled larder


with many a pleasant laugh and jest they drew forth the savoury treasures and spread htupon the table


there was a glorious cold roast emu stuffed with truffles but not ere it had supplied the requisite quantity of its own delssoil wherein to fry the savoury steaka ot a young morepawk


the jew lizardthe chosen delicacy of the australian settlerappeared in a variety of forms while a platypus pie m jbich th e myrstices between the delicately flavoured birds were med by the golden tol of their own eggs called forth no slight observations to wash down these tempting viands there appeared good store of the choict wines from all regions of the earth together with an ample supply of chat nectar of malt so highly prized by all true connoisseursbright colonial alethe farfamed murphy s entire


after half an hours assiduous application the emu began to look foolish and the yeomanry contented


farther revelations then rewarded farther research


a huge kettle of solid silver suspended over a sprnt np of yet more precious material was found staudmg m suggestive contiguity with sundry case bottles and other things winch the officer whosd been first struck over the head by the nugget designated the matarials so that a quarter of an hour had not dapsad cent bowl of punch was disappearing rapidly while a fragraat cloud ascended from a score of pipes and cigars


such is a soldiers life


come sing us a songone of your own lt id the of the band addressing a popular favouriteyoung fits ursecelebrated m the corps as a musician and poet


with pleasure said fitz urse with au a soldiers frankness but you mustnt be too critical for i did but compose the words and music yesterday as i sat in the saddle after we had escorted the governor of port essington into brisbane


then without farther preface he sang in a full rich voice the minstbei


lad the minstrel lad to the fight is gone in deaths cold ranks yell find him his glittering sword he has girded on and his bugle slung behind him


golden land said the warrior bard though many tongues abuse ye one voice at least your fame shall guard for mine fair land i choose ye


the bold youth tell but the foemans chain could neer make him knock under he never spoke a word again savehundreds heard with wonderj to say ye shall not bully me although i find my luck up my panting spirit still is free as twas


eer i was stuck up


the excellence and originality of words and air elicited of course loud encomiums


now pat its your time said the leader addressing a weatherbeaten hibernian veteran who had served in the peninsular war under evans and whose drollery and powers of anecdote made him a prime favourite among them all bedad he answered me boys id be glad to obleege ye but me powers o song was all knocked on the head by that thundering blagguard de vere


let me off wid a story will ye


hear


hear hear cried a dozen voices and the gallant irishman at once proceeded


twas one bither eowld night in july i was out wid a foraging oartv on the plains of estramadura a little way outside salamanca when we came to the gate of a borracho that was built justchake by iowl bv an owld cachuro


as we pushed it open the foivia came forward howlding up a rich silver hidale and a great wax candle in it that the parish praste of me own darlin native town would have given blessings for as would have lasted me from now till christmas


well sire one of ours had just wrenched the hidalgo out o the owld fondas hand to knock him down wid it when one o the lovliest little caminos i ever clapped ois on came flying along the meso her hair straining in the wind


save him save him


she cried


i knocked up the hidalgo just as it was descending and the narrator was here interrupted by a remarkable circumstance


algernon de vere


chapter iv


with habitual selfcontroul the bushranger speedily subdued the shock of apprehension which he had experienced and calmly awakened kidnyfatima from her peaceful slumbers


the stonnnursed albatross awakens to the consciousness ot life and light amid the roar of breakers upon some ironbound coast and thenceforth her home is among the deep hollows of the sea or upon the crags and ridges that ocean tosses up for a moment and then resumes into his silent depths but wherever she may bewhether peacefully sitting upon the glassy surface of the deep while calm reigns over the slowly heaving bosom of the sleeping pacific giantor whether vainly striving on her wide wings to stem the blasts that howl and sweep across the broad surges of the atlanticher loving eye ever turns to seek her mate and her true heart finds a home wherever he may be and alike amid storm or sunshine provided he be but near


in like manner kidnyfatima born in the primeval depths of austral forests and early allied to the wild and wandering algernon had long learned to turn towards him for comfort and security and to find her home in his presence amid all the vicissitudes of her strange and vagrant life


when she awoke therefore and found herself lying beneath the budding branches ot the gum trees spreading forth their delicate green leaves amid the carol of the thousand birds that hailed with their varied songs the birth of the spring morning it was only with a momentary start that she recovered her consciousness of the outer world


in an instant she recognised the bushranger and felt herself to be secure and in the presence of him whobut let us draw a veil over the holiest emotions of the young heart


he led her silently away through the umbrageous arcades to the woodland home of her forefathers


it is one of the most remarkable characteristics of the genuine and unsophisticated savage that whatever may be the ferocity of his nature he is ever all gentleness towards the feebler sex


when wild in woods the noble savage ran the incessancy with which he scuttled about was ever prompted by his desire to carry lume the luscious possum and the savoury quondong to the dear divider of his griefs and doubler of his happiness


his sole car was ever to bring home the little that man wants here below and doesnt want long for her sustenance and delectation while she remained in the conjugal wigwam engaged in the lightest domestic labours and in the conveying to her offspring the simple erudition that is accounted wisdom among these children of nature


perhaps the aborigines of australia stand above all other savages in their chivalrous gallantry and gentle forbearance towards the weaker sex


it is probably in an aboriginal australian village that we shall find the nearest approach to that perfect state which old philosophers have attempted to paint in their descriptions of utopia the new atlantis and other creations of the imagination and which modern speculators have vainly endeavoured to build up amid the heartlessnesses of european society in the shape of parallelograms phalanxteries and agapemones


the simple minded inhabitants of the primeval village as algernon and kidnyfatima entered within its precincts were just commencing their innocent daily life


troops of smiling girls with their pails poised upon their heads were wending their way towards the paddocks in which the gentle and expectant kangaroos were waiting to be milked


the younger lads of the village were already unfolding the flocks of opossums which with their meat and wool constitute the chief pastoral wealth of the australian aborigines while the men were bringing forth their rude ploughsthe shares of which are pointed with emus teeth to till the ground devoted to the culture of the kangaroograss the grain of which makes the delicious bread called cowie


at the appearance of kidnyfatima labour was suspended however for in all the tribe there was not one heart unfilled with love for the daughter of their chieftain


no eye had been dry when she quitted the scenes ot her childhood to become the bride of the pale face and now all hailed her return with songs of welcome and congratulation


presently a troop of young village maidens approached their graceful dusky forms being set off to the highest advantage by the wreaths of flowers with which they had hastily adorned themselves while their hands were laden with bouquets to fling before the footsteps ot the new comers


the maidens as they proceeded with their pleasing occupation of spreading beauty and fragrance around led the way with dancing feet towards the wigwam of the chieftain keeping time as they circled in mazy and fantastic figures to the music of a somewhat plaintive chaunt


the words partook of the richly metaphorical character which distinguishes all eastern compositions and especially so those of these southernorientals


they may be rendered thus the daughter of the black sheep went forth with the snow white bull and the tears of the black sheep flowed freely upon her sable wool but the sunshine of joy hath burst out once again upon us for behold she returns to gladden the poor old ram as the pale face is gladdened by the sight of gold


the dark cloud wedded the white mist that came from afar over the sea and the sifters of the dark cloud dissolved in tears of rain and as sugar is dissolved in tea but the dark cloud has come again and now every parched leaf and flower and blade will grow fresh and green and young again rejoicing in the coolness of her sheltering shade


with the exquisite talent for choral improvisation which characterises the australian aborigines the young maidens continued to sing stanzas relating to kidnyfatimas history until she had reached the portal of her fathers dwelling


the venerable chief had already received tidings of his daughters approach but according to the custom of the country he remained seated until she had advanced kneeled down and asked his blessing


he gave it impressively and then the priest and monarch unbending in the father and the man he bestowed upon her a thousand paternal caresses


presently however she recognised the dark figure of an elderly woman rocking herself in a corner kidnyfatima disengaged herself from her father and threw herself into the arms of the old woman


oh never mind me said she


of course im nobody now which i hope you may never know what a mothers feelings is to be deserted and reviled by her own daughter


never mind poor old me


go and enjoy yourself with your fine white husband the tears of kidnyfatima began to flow and algernon who had faced death in a thousand shapes and never quailed began to tremble while the colour gradually forsook his cheek


he stood in the presence of his motheeinlaw


i


the attention of the argus critic is particularly directed to this remarkably fine passage


if that party be loth by cutting it out for purposes of republication to destroy his copy of punch a separate klip shall he supplied to him on ap plication at this office


the fact so beautifully referred to will be found recorded in munchausens natural history vol


xxvi p


the streets of sydney with some account of the houses thereof and the people who dwell therein


hooke


y walker a very extensive traveller


chapter xii


i am furnished with a little drama which is supposed to have commenced in pittstreet and terminated in the domain


bush life in australia


an original tale


chapter viii


i the object of mr thomas being the selec tion of timber for his vessel ive rambled leisurely onward he occasionally cutting a notch in a tree harry and i chasing every iguana and kangaroo rat that we started and bick keeping well ahead beating for snakes j in the long blady gras with a small branch that he had broken from a bush


occasion ally i glanced with curiosity at tho sombre


i looking scrub beyond us and my heart more j than once beat quickly as i fancied that i saw dark forms moving amongst the dense underwood but at such times dick after a keen survey under his outspread hand reas sured us and we proceeded


as thomas found no spars suitable for his purpose here it was resolved that we should pass through the scrub before to the forest beyond dick assuring us that the distance was not above halfamlle


just before entering the brush i was absolutely startled by striking upon a wellbeaten path coming from the direction of the creek and passing into the scrub


it was scarcely two feet in breadth but clear and well defined


a black fellows track said dick


theyve made this since i was here last but it will take us the shortest way through this bit of chinchin brush


accordingly our guide led the way and we followed


the covert through which we wero passing was very similahn appearance to that which wehad left but we started neither bird nor beast and had not proceeded three hundred yards when dick halted as suddenly as if he had been transfixed cocked his gun with a rapid motion and threw his left arm backwards with the hand elevated and the open palra towards us in a gesture of warning and caution


we all paused in stantly and followed his precaution with re spect to the firearms though they were only loaded with birdshot


after remaining in th position for several seconds and gazing anxiously before him dick slowly fell back towards us keeping his eyes however still directed towards the quarter be was leaving


a blacks camp said he ima whisper when wo were all together and not a very small one cither


dont you see the smoke


on looking intently in the direction in dicated i fancied i could discern faint appearances of smoke here and there but the intervals betiveen the masses of foliage in the scrubs had all so smoky an appear ance that i could not be sure


during this short investigation of ours dicks eye had not been fixed for an instant but was keenly glancing about


theres nothing for it said he but to get back the way ive came


these fellows are watching us at this minute you may bo sure and saw us como here for i theres not one of them at the camp


this is a nasty place to be caught in but if we can get back to the forest i dont care


now follow me and keep a sharp loolcout but dont fire unless i tell you the position of command was assumed by dicfc in the most natural manner as a matter of course and we just as naturally acknowledged it without the slightest thought of question


happily we were un molested while getting clear of the scrub


tho truo cause of this forbearanceso con trary to the usual wily practices of the savagesi never knew but dick subse quently attributed it in some measure to a sort of admiring surprise at the bright scarlet of the new serge frocks that we wore


how ever this may havo been we reached the forest ground in safety and began to breathe moro freely


weil said dick theyve let us off chea so far i dare say added he with a grin they tonic you and mr mr easgatc for devil devil


much obliged to them remarked harry who had aorii a very wicked look during the last few minutes if they give me a chance i will endeavour to justify their good opinion


here they are then by g said dick emphatically and with a hurried gesture towards the scrub


in an instant all eyes wero directed to the spot


at first nothing was visible but the same dark foliage as before but presently one after another dusky forms vere seen hurrying along the edge of the scrub and in twenty different spots a black object glanced for a moment from behind a tree and as suddenly disappeared


take no notice said dick but come on


weve not tho slightest chance with them in this dd pound of a place and the best thing is to got down to the boat as quietly as possibly


no sooner did wo move forward again however than the whole forest rang with a yoll that i shall never forgot to my dying day


what the warwhoop of the american indians may be i know not but anything moro discordant and horrible than the sound that now for the first time met my ears i am unable to imagine


it was a mixture of shouting roaring and screaming as if terror and apprehension wero mingled with ferocity and defiance


at the same moment tho performers in this agreeable concert made themselves visible


the forest waa alive with thora


from that part of the open ground where the creek before men tioned ran into the river round to tho track that we had first quitted a half circle of naked dancing yelling savages were scattered


they had evidently been startled in the camp by the report of tho firearms when we committed such destruction amongst the pigeons had watched us into the scrub and were now endeavouring to cut off our retreat


their extraordinary contortions of bodynow stooping and running alons like monkeys next stamping and levellinp their long spears with hoarse shouts of whoahwhoihwhoahland then turn ing round their bodies to us with unmistak able gestures of comtomptnous defiance kept my mind in such a whirl of excitement and confusion that i was hardly master of my actions


in obedience to dicks sug gestion we one after the other drew out our charges of shot and substituted in each case a ball cartridge


all this time the blacks were getting nearer to us and their right flank as a military man would say was extended to the very junction of tho creek with the scrub so that wo had our foes on two sides of a trianglo au the river scrub on the third


at this juncture of affurs and while we still made our way towards the boat con stantly turning round with pacific gestures towards the savages a tall muscular black singled himself out from the rest and advanc ed vithlheutmostdaringin frontofthecentre of their line appeared by spitting jnipiug md furious action to be defying ii while over mid anon ho turned to his barbarous compatriots waved them on with his arm and then ran forward still nearer to us


this fellow repeatedly exhibited that pecular gesture of contempt to which i lvivc before alluded and on one occasion as ho did so harry dropped to his kimo levelled his instantly nt the insulting savage and another moment woum have embroiled ui nil if it had not been for dick who graiped both his arms before ho could pull the trigger


for gods nalco let bim alono said dick or were all dead men


what use haconjniupd as harry reluctantly recovered


tirnv


vhat ue is i beru in lnnpiug on a tightwith evenly or eighty bloudtliirsty i wretches against four of us and wo rounded f up in this way


if it comes to that we must do our best but dont bring it on i tell you


if these here fellows had been all regular wilduns i wouldnt care but chance a shot at them but mind me theres fellows among these thats been in many a fight with the sawyers though perhaps some never seed the face of a white man before


take my word the way theyve got us bailed up theyll make a rush the first shot thats fired


the case however was becoming critical as we neared the scrub


the blacks were hemming us in on all other sides and even dick appeared doubtful whether it would not be better to risk a contest at once than to give our slippery enemies so manifest an ad vantage as they would have if they once got us amongst the vines and underwood


hold on sir said he as i was about to strike into the thicket towards the river


this will never do


look at that black thief crawling along there


i followed the direction of his finger and saw a lithe activelooking native wriggling through the long grass half bent to the ground and followed at intervals of a few yards by nearly a dozen others


they were advancing from the creek beforo mentioned and hurrying over a small patch of untim bared land towards tho scrub that lay be tween us and the boat


as they moved crouchingly along they still held their spears poised and probably only awaited a favor able moment when wicfiin good distance and our attention was drawn off by the blacks more immediately following to let fly their weapons into our small party


now mr eastgate continued dick wo must fight or die


ill make suro of tho big brute coming on here and do each of you shoot one of those fellows coming from the creek but if ever you shot true in your lives dont miss now


scarcely were the words out of his mouth whenbangbangbangin rapid succes sion went three sharp rifle shots from the creek


wo saw two black bodies spring high into the air and then drop down in the long grass while the others ran off towards the main body ono of the fugitives stagger ing and reeling in a manner that convinced us he was also hit


at the same moment and in less time than it takes mo to tell it one simultaneous and diabolical yell burst from the advancing crowd of natives and about thirty spears and boomerangs came whistling and whirring about us as wo all four fired at random amongst them


when the smoke cleared off not a black was to be seen and the green patch of forest appeared as lonely and deserted as when we entered upon it but an hour or two before


imme diatly afterwards however a loud


cooey drew our attention again towards the creek and we had the gratification to see three strangers in bush attire ad vancing from the covert whence their rifles had afforded us such timely assistance we were hastening towards them when dick suddenly exclaimed my god wheres mr thomas


in the momentary excitement we had not missed him but we now found the poor fellow lying at a few yards distance with a deep cut from a boomerang in the right side of the head and breathing heavily


wo raised him up as the strangers approached tho leader of whom gave us to understand that he was the mr kennedy whom the commissioner had men tioned to me on the previous day


ho had arrived with his sheep on the night before and had encamped at a short distance but during his temporary absence this morning in search of the crossing place to the settlement a large party of blacks had rushed the sheep slaughtered several and defiantly held a grand feast in sight of the shepherds going ltisurely off about their i business when they had done


mr kennedy i had been informed of this on his return and i soon afterwards hearing the distant report


of our guns at the pigeon battue hastened to our succour not doubting that some fellowsettler was being attacked by the blacks already encouraged by their morn ings meal of mutton


there can bo no doubt that this opportune arrival saved our lives for our assailants had us almost at their mercy in this unfavourable spot nor would they have been driven off so easily if they had known the number of the reinfocer ment as well as they knew ours


dick expressed his belief that our com panion though dangerously was not mortally wounded and in this opinion he was joined by air


kennedy who promised to cover our retreat while we carried him to the boat requesting us to urge major downie immediately to send two or three policemen to his assistance as hewished to leave a guard over the camp beforo he crossed the river himself


youre right there sir said dick them fellows wont soon forget the two youve knocked down


lets havo a look at them


leaving mr kennedys men supporting thomas we walked over to the spot where tho two blacks had dropped


they had both been shot between tho shoulders and wera quite dead


one was a slender youth with but little beard


he lay upon his back with his limbs stretched out and features undistorted


the other a thicklybuilt muscular fellow with a grizzly beard had dropped in a heap as it wore and lay doubled up with his immense mouth wide open and his glaring eyeballs bare


dick stooped and took from their bolts the boomerangs which were stuck behind and two long thin wooden spears that were lying near with the fine points scraped bare for about eighteen inches


these articles he presented to mr kennedy but that gentle man declined tho trophies with a smile telling dick to put them among his heir looms


sudden and startling as was this my first encounter with the aborigines i confess that i left tho two dead blacks to fester in the suu or become tho prey of native dogs with very little romorse


i was so utterly guilt less of any evil intention towards them when they had so pcrsevcringly attempted that morning to deprive mo of a life that was then but now to me that i took no trouble to remember the many fine things said by slippered and carpeted philanthro pists on tho subject


besides here was our hospitable host perhaps breathing his last certainly for no wrong that ho had done or even meditated to these people


as to ilirry ho absolutely spurned with his foot the carcass of tho stout black as ho turned away from it


thus easily uredrawingroom theories dispelled by bush exprience


mr kennedy promised to join ns at tho settlement as soon as lie received the ro juired assistance from the commissioner mi taking leave of bim outside the scrub we raised poor thomas and cmviyed him to tho loat without further molestation


wo had bandaged his wound and though hu continued unconscious no more unfavor able symptonis were nppirenl


well mr ristgalo said dick as we pulled across the river i sposc youll ho liuvo now that weve got ono or two blacks in those parts who aro not over and abovo civil to strmiiv


i why yus replied harry that fact


seems establish


am moreover


if ii ha


j j not been for tin pleasing plank and saw


i i pit episode of ti j glreikc history i should have supposed that siw cobaw


jack in i i that big rascal tlmuirh whoso cabin win dows wonl cortiiily have sent a bullet but for your kind il rlv av


f j it wasnt jiok that you may bj sure said diok with a roll of his eye


i duut


suppose that the best carpenter you ever saw could put him together againfrom all that ive heard


but as to what you say about shooting this fellow its the worst thing that could havebeen done


they saw how many they had to deal with and only wanted the start to settle us all


its always the way with them fellows but when they got the shots from the creek they didnt know how many were upon thora and the cruel wretches are always too cowardly to wait to see


dont you re member my telling you how i sent a whole mob flying with ono shot at the sawyers hut the day they killed our three men


we remembered it very well but harry had a compunctious recollection also of his disbelief on that occasion so he was silent


we found on arriving at the south side of the river that the settlement was in a great bustlo of excitement


a crowd of sawyers were collected at a short distance from thomas residence and loud and angry shouts proceeded from that direction


honest captain john of the cutter mary met us as wo reached tho shore and quickly letusknowthe cause of all the uproar the major is going to flog the corporal said he for losing the blackfellow last night but the sawyers are furious about it and swear theyll rescue him


our first caro was for the wounded man whom we conveyed on board the mary as the quietest place under existing circum stances


captain john who was not with out some rough knowledge of surgery agreed with dick that there was no fracture of the skull and after bathing and cold ap plications with friction of the lower limbs poor thomas began to breathe more na turally and wc left him under the charge of fred the mate


on approaching the commissioners head quarters we found that affairs had been brought to a climax


the major had tried the unfortunate corporal for his neglect and sentenced him to receive fifty lashes under the summary jurisdiction to which the poor fellow was liable


i was now enlightened with respect to the peripatetic administra tion of justice in the bush


the unfortunate corporal was already stripped to the waist with his wrists handcuffed round a sappling


beside him stood one of the policemen with his shirtsleeves turned up and a catonine tails in his hand while the remainder of the police wero drawn up with loaded carbines and the major stood in front with his drawn sword in his hand and a pair of pistols in his belt


these formidable dispositions did not appear to be unnecessary for the sawyers seemed completely maddened at the pre parations


probably if loft to themselves they would have but little mercy on the police for suffering the black to escape but this formal and public punishment of the lash excited all their sympathies and they loudly vowed


that


it


should not be ad ministered


their threats had no influence on tho major who had turned to the flogger with tlo stern command one when harry and i rushed forward arrested the falling lash and happily put an end to this sickening scene


in a few words we made the commissioner aware o the state of affairs but so jealous was he of any interference with discipline that i doubt if anything would have saved the poor wretch before us if it had not been for tho fact that mr kennedy was himself in in thu commission of the peace


i make it point said major dounie aloud never to order the punishment of my own men when another magistrateis ac cessible so as one has now arrived on the river i shall cancel the prisoners sentence and bring lum before mr kennedy tomorrow


take him down


the intended executioner of the laws sentence threw down his barbarous instru ment of torture with the greatest alacrity and the corporal wns loose in a minute while the sawyers gave vent to their satisfac tion in a hoarse cheer


for my part i felt assured by the manner in which the major returned the grasp ol my hand that he was but too happy to be relieved of a most dis tasteful duty


he at once despatched the policemen required by kennedy and then accompanied us to see our poor host thomas whose hurt ho attended to with a degree of skill and promptitude that had doubtless been long acquired


he endorsed the opinions previously expressed and assured us that with care and quiet there was no clanger of a fatal result


mr kennedy soon afterwards joined us and we went to dinner with ample food for tabletalk in the events of the day


i am obliged to flurry over the incidents of the next few days


mr thomas recover ed and the corporal escaped his flogging mr kennedy sentencing bim merely to lose bis stripes instead of receiving them


the commissioner after a tremendous uproar with the sawyers made a compromise allowing them all to ship their cedar on payment of the licensemoney for the current year


as to harry and myself after repeated consultations with the major and kennedy we came to the conclusion that the advice before given by the former was the best to be followed and accordingly made prepara tions to set out in search of a run


from kennedy i purchased a team of ten bullocks three good saddlehorses for ourselves and dick and many articles for which ho had no further use after his journey but which were indispensable to us


such of my merchan dise as i could not dispose of i returned in the mary to mr drummond to whom i wroto full particulars of our proceedings up to this point


well harry said i as the mary was getting under weigh for sydney have you contrived any way of sending the billet you were so anxious about


he smiled significantly but made mo no reply


a light southwester filled the sails of the cutter nnd wo cheered a hearty fare well to what we were inclined to viow as the only bridge between this wilderness and civilised lifo next day wo got all our stores across to the north side where the cattle were already


it was a glorious morning but hot as an oven when wo yoked up for our expedition concoming which as promised the major had given us plenty of information and ad vice


we took leave of him and the clarence with regret as also of mr kennedy and our kind host thomas now quito recovered from the effects of his wound


having engaged a competent bullockdriver from mr kcnnelys service wo wero now six in allthree on horseback and three on foot


we wre thoroughly armed and with such superin tendents as the major kennedy and terrible dick it is hardly necessary to my that our equipment was in nii respects well attended to


god speed you my lads said tho worthy old commissioner


mind you let mc hear of your success


all right major nid


harry well sjiid you a letter hythe town delivery


oh for that matter yon arc sure to find somebody coming over this way sume dav orotlvr


good bye to you both mid hide go with you


good


bye good bye resounded on all


si les


spank went the ion lash of til j bullock drivers whip


geewo smiler i and we wore off


aye


good bye


it hil a melancholy


i sound that morning


whether the reader is to fillmv rae my further i know not


the exciting nnticipniion f new nd enture w is lampe au i chille by those pirtlng wurds ins harry and rode slowly alter terrible


dick who led tho way to the northward


ufii and adventures ofmaktik


cllllzzlliwit


hv c dickens esq


fcbafiaudnm our lal chapter ix


town atd tonokltss


here the gentlemen were all assemble


tliere mis a jrincrnl cry rf henr lieu


mid bravo jink


when mr jinvins niwnrcd with charily on ills arm whiill becrai


quite rapturous us mr gamlur followed escorfmu mercy iml mr pecksniff brought up the rear with mrs todgera


then the prrwnliitiuns took place


they included a gentleman of a sportinir turn who nronouuiled uuestions on iockcv suliiclstu tin editors of sunday papere which wire regarded by his friends as rather si iff tiling toinswer ami tlipy included n gentleman ol a illratrical turn who had unco entertained trrinis thoughts of coining out hut had been fceit ill by lie wickedness uf human nature and thv in cluded a gentleman of a debating turn


ho was strung at speechmaking and a nukmali ol a litrrnry turn who wrote squibs iiiun


lie nst and knew the weak side of everybodys charac ter but his otrn


tliere was a lenilrinau of vocal tuni and n rimulnmn ol a siuuking turn the gcutlemiii for whist and a larji liropur tioiiollhe jrcnllvimmi had a clnmir


billiards and betting


they hid nil il may be pivsunied n turn for business bcinp all cuin had every one in his own wuy a dtciiied turn for pleasure to hoot


mr jinkmfs was of a frsliiouahlc turn hiitisr n niriilaj frniinmtcr of the paru on sundays and inoiviii u great nimiy cnrriiiiifb v bijilil


he srkii mjmi


riously loo ofydmiid women and was sus pected of huvintr once coniiuitteil himself with a countess


air


gander mis of a u illy turn being indeed the jrcntlcnmu who hail originated the sally about collars wliieh


gpniklinu pleasantry was now retailed irum iiiuiiiii lu mouth under the title of ganders ust and was received in all purls of ihe mom villi grent applause


mr jinliins it innv be added was much the oldest of the party being a tish silesmius boutkeeper aged iirtv


he was the oldest boarder also ami in rilit of his double seniority took the lead in the lnusc as mrs todgershad already said


there was a consideiuble delay in the pro duction of dinner and poor mrs lodgers being reproached in confidence by jiukiiis slipped in and out at least twenty tinns to see about it j always coming hack us though she had no such thing upon her mind mid hadnt been out at all


hut there was no hileli in ihe conversation novel theless for one jrrminu who travelled in the perfumery line exhibited an interesting nicknack in the way of a re markable cake of shaving soap which he had lately met with in germany and the gentle un ireartrizn fivi iluced on the freezing of the tank at llie back of the house


these amusements with the pissed the time splendidly until dinner was announced by bailey junior iu these terms thewiulcsisupf on which notice they immediately uwriidiil to the banquethall some of the more face tious spi iu in the rear taking down eviiilfinen as if they were indies in imitation of the for tunate possessors of the tivo miss pecksniff


mr ecksuiffsaid grace a short and pious grace invoking a blessing on the appetites of i hose present and committing nil pisuis uho had nothing to eat to the care of proviience whose business so said the rare iu etlecl it clearly was to ljok ufcer them


this done they fell to with less ceremony than appetite the table groaning beneath theveight lin only oflhe delicacies whereof the miss ivlsnifli had been previously forewarned but of boilej beef roast veal bacon piee and abundance of such heavy vegetables as are favourablv known to uousekieprs lor their satisfying nualities


besides iiwcli


there were wllles if stout bottles of wine buttles of ale and divers other strong diinks native and foreign


all this was highly agreeable to the livo miss pecksniffs who were in immense re quest sitting one on cither hand of mr jiu kins at the bottom of the table ind who were called upon u take wine with some new ad mirer every minute


they had hardly ever felt so pleasant and so fulfill conversation iu uionlybriliiautudsjdsonanvgooliiinls in the way of lively repartee llmt she was looked upon as a prodigy


lu short as that young ludy observed they felt now indeed that they were iu london and fur the first their young friend ijailrv sympathised in these feelings to llie lullest eitent and abating nuilinc of hie pntrounirt


giivc iliirin tvery en isttfcriera aitentioiivaaivcrreil from liis procueriijjp with many nods aud winks and oilier tokens of recognition und occusion ully toucli jjjs nose iviili a corkscrew as if to cxnrcss the bncdmnnlian clmnieier of ilw


ineiiung


in iruili perhaps even the spirits of tbe two iliss lyeksniffs and the hungry watchfulness of mrs tudgers were less worthy of note than tlic proceed inpf of this remark able lioy whom tiutlnnj disconcert fad or nut out of he way


ll tiny


licec ol crockery a dish or otherwise clihnced to siju


iijtouuij liis jmnds which happened once or twice


he let it go with perfect roojhreediug mid never added to the painful emotions of the company by exhibiting the least regret


nor did he by hurrying to mid fro disturb the repose of the assembly us manv welltrained servants do on the contrary feeling the hopelessness of waiting upon so largo a party he lull the gen tlemen to help themselves towhit they wauled anil seldom stirred from lieliiiid mr ihikiuss chair where with his hands in his pockets and his legs planted pretty wide apart he led the laughter and enjoyed the conversation


the dessert was splendid


no waiting either


the puddingplates had ben washed iu a little tub outside the door while cheese ims on and though they were moist and warm with fric tion still there they were again up to the mark anil true to time


quarts of almonds dozens of oranges pounds of raisins stnrks of biffins soupplates full of nuts


oh tod jrerss could do it when it chose i mind hut


then more wine came on red nines and white wines and a large china boul of jiundi fcrtrtved


ny llie gentleman of a convivial turn who adjured the miss pecksniffs not to he despondent on uccount of its ilimcusuns as there were materials in the house for the con coction of half a dozen more of ihe same size


good gracious him they laughed i llow they coughed when they sipped it because it tt


is eu strong and how they laughed again when somebody vowed that but for its colour it might have been mistaken iu regard f s inocnourf qualities for new milk


i what a shout of ho hurst from the jrenticinen when they pathetically implored mr jinkins lo sutler them to ijuulily it with hot water


and how liliishingly by liuleand little did euch of them drink her whole glassful down to its very dregs i now comes the trying time


the sun as mr jinkins says gentlemanly creature jiiikins never at a lossl in tthnut to leave the lirniameiit


miss pecksniff says mrs todgers softly will yon oil dear no more mrs todjfere


mrs todgers rises the two miss pecksniffs rise all rise


miss jlercv pecksniff looks downward for her scarf


where is it


dear me where can it be


sweet girl she has it on not on her fair neck but loose upon her hawing figure


a dozen hinds assist her


she is ull confusion


the youngest gentleman in cuinpnny thirsts to murder jiukins


she skips and joins her sister at the door


her sister has her arm about the ivnist of mrs tudjrers


sue mods her arm around her sister


diana what a picture


the lust things visible are a shape and a skip


ieuuemeu let us drink the ladies


the enthusiasm is tremendous


the gen tleman of a debating turn rises in the midst and suddenly lets loose a lido of eloquence irhich bears down everything irefoie it


he i reminded of a toast a toast to which they will respond


there is an individual present he has him in his eye lo whom they owe a debt of grutilnde


he repeuta it n debt of grati tude


their rugged natures have been softened and ameliorated that day by the society of uny whnm two accomplished and delightful of their exit


nce


yes when yet tbe two miss peiksuifls lisped in language scarce in telligible they called that individual atller


there is irual applause lie gives them


mr peeksniir mill god bless him


they all shake hands with mr pecksniff us they drink pany lines so with a thrill for he feels that a mysterious iiillueuec pervades the man who claims that being in the pink scarf for ilis daughter


what saith mr pecksniff in reply f or ralher let the question he what leaves be un said f nothing


more punch is called fur and produced and drunk


enthusiasm mounts still higher livery man comes out freely in ns own character


the gentleman of a tlipflfrtcii i ttirti recites


iltc voctil pntlttinti rcfrnlcs them with a song


guilder leavus the gander of ull former feasts whole leagues be hind


ue rises lo propose a toast


it is the father ol lodgerss


it is their common friend jintit is old jink if he may call him by that familiar aud endearing appellation


the youngest gentleman in company utters a frantic negative


jle wont have it he cunl bear it it mustnt be


but bis depth of feel ing is misunderstood


he is supposed to be a little elevated and nobody heeds him


mr jinkius thinks them from his heart


it is hv many degrees the proudest day in his humble career


when he looks round him on the vrcsint occasion be feels that he wmt words in which lo express his gratitude


one thing he will say


he hopes it has been shown that todgerss can he true to itself and an opportunity arising that it can come out quite as strong as its neighbours perhaps stronger


he reminds them amidst thunders of encouragement that they have heard of a similar establishment iu cannonstreet nnd that they have heard it praised


he wishes to llie list man la


do it but iiheii that cmiuon street establishment shall be able to produce such a combination of wit and heautv as has graced that board that day and shall be able to serve up all things considered such a din ner as that of which they have just partaken he will be happy to talk to it


xjntil then gen tlemen he will stick to todgerss


more punch more enthusiasm more excite ment more speeches


everybodys health is ilrunk saving the youngest gentlemans iu company


lie sits apart with his elbow on ihe hack of a vacant chair and glares disdain fully at jiukins


gander iu a convulsing speech gives them the health of bailey jun


liiccups nr heard and a glass is broken


mr jinkins feels that it is time to join the mrs todgers


she is worthy to be remem bered separately


hear hear


so she is no doubt of it


they all find fault with her at kher times hut every mau feels uow that they go upstiirs where they are not ex pected so soon for mrs todgers is asleep miss charity is adjusting her hair and mercy ivho has made a sofa of one of the window seats is in a gracefully recumbent attitude


she is rising hastily when mr jinkins ira ilorcs her for all their sales not to stir she ioaks too graceful and too lovely he remarks o be disturbed


she laughs and yields and tans herself and drops her fan and there is a rush to pick it up


dcing now installed iry ue consent as the beauty of the party she is sruel and capricious and sends gentlemen on messages to other gentlemen and forgets all about them before they can return with an answer and invents a liiousand tortures rend ing their hearts to nieces


bailey brings up tlie tea ana conee


nerc is a small cluster idmirers round charity but they are only those who cannot get near her sister


the youngest gentleman in company is pale but collected and still sits apart for his spirit loves to hold communion with itself and his soul recoils from noisy revellers


she has a consciousness of iiis presence and his adora tion


he sees it flushing sometimes iu the corner of her eye


have a care jiukins ere you nrorckc h desperate niao to frenzy


mr pecksniff had followed his younger friends upstairs aud taken a chair at tbe side of mrs tudgers


he had also spilt a cup ol coffee over uis legs without appearing to be aware of the circumstance nor did lie seem to


and how have they used you down stairs sir


asked the hostess


their conduct has been such my dear tion or remember without a tear


oh mrs todgitsl


my goodness exclaimed that lady how sniff shedding tears and speaking nith


an im perfect urticululiou but am also a father


i am also a widower


my feelings will not consent to be entirely smothered like ihe young children in the tower


they are grown up and he more i press the holster on tlietn the more they look round the corner of it


he suddenly became conscious of the bit of mufmi and stared at it intently shaking his head the while ill a forlorn and imbecile man ner as if he regarded it as his evil genius and niilillv reproached it


she was beautiful mrs todgers he said turning his glazed eye again upon her kitli oul the least preliminary notice


she had a small property


so have heard cried mrs todgers with great sypinathy


those arc her daughters said mr peck sniff pointing out the youug ladies with iu cieased emotion


mrs todgers had no doubt of it


mercy and charily said mr pecksniff charity and mercy


not unholy names hope mr pecksniff


cried mrstodgers what a ghastly smile i are you ill sir


he pressed his hand upon her arm and an swered in a solemn manner and a faint voice chronic


cholict cried the frightened m rstodgers


cliniuic he repeated with boine discuhv


chronic


a chronic disorder


i have been its victim from childhood


it is carrying me heaven forbid i cried mrs todgers


yes it is said mr pecksniff recklesb with despair


i am rather glaii of it upon the whole


you are like her m is


todgers


djut squeeze me so light pray mr pecksniff


if any of the gentlemen shou d notice us


tor her sake said mr pecksniff


per mit inc iu honour of her meninrv


for the sake of a voice from the tomb


von arc tlery like her m rs


tulgers


what a world this isf


ah i


indeed you may sav that


cried mrstodgrs


im afraid its a vain and lhnuirhtliss world said mr pecksniff overflowing with despondency


these youm ptonle about us


oh what sense have they of their responsibi lities


give me your other hand mrs tudgers


that ludy hesitated and said she didnt like


lias a voice from the grave no influence i said mr pecksniff with dismal tenderness


this is irreligious


my dear creature


hush urged mrs tudgers


really you


its not me said mr pecksniff


botit suppose its me ito the voice its her voice


mrs pecksniff deceased must have had an unusually thick and husky vice for a lady and rather a stuttering voice and to bay the truth something of a drunken voice if it had ever borne much resemblance lo tliat in which mr pecksniff spoke just then


but perhaps this was delusion on his part


it has been a day of enjoyment mrs todgers but still it has been a day of torture


it has reminded me or my loneliness


what am jin the world f an excellent gentleman mr pecksniff said mrs todgers


there is consolation iu that too cried mr pecksniff ami


there is no better man living said mrs todgers i am sore


j r pecksniff smiled through his tears and slightly shook his bead


you are very good be said thank you


it is a great happiness to me mrs todgcrs to make young people happy


the happiness of my pupils is my chief object


dote upon cm


they dote upon me too sometimes


always snid airs


todgers


when they say they havent improved maain whispered mr pecksniff looking at her with proluuml mystery and motioning to her to advance her ear a little closer to his mouth


when they say they havent im proved muain and the premium was too high they lie shouldnt wish it to he mentioned you will understand me but i say to you as to an old friend they lie


base wretches they must he said mrs todgers


madam said mr pecksniff you are right


i respect you for that observation


a word in jour car


to parents and gunrdiaus this is in confidence mrs todgers f the strictest of course


cried that lady


to parents and guardians repeated mr pecksniff


an eligible opportunity now offers which unites tbe advantages of the best practical architectural education with the com forls of a home and tbe constant association with some who however humble their sphere and limited their capacity obserrc i are not unmindful of their mural responsibilities


mrstodgcrs looked a little puzzled to know what this might menu as well she might for it was as the reader may perchance remember mr pecksniffs usual form of advertisement when he wanted a pupil and seemed to have no particular reference at present to anything


but mr pecksniff held up his finger as a caution to her not to interrupt him


do vou know any parent or guardian mrs todgers said mr pecksniff who desires to avail himself of such au opportunity fur a young gentleman f au orphan would lie pre ferred


do you know of any orphan with three or four hundred pound


mrs tojgers reflected and shook her head


wikui you hear of an orphan with three or four hundred pound said mr pecksniff let tliat dear urphuns friends apply by letter post paid to s p posloffice salisbury


dont iio ft ho he is exactly


dont he alarmed airs


todgers said mr pecksuiff falling heavily against her chronic chronic i lets have a little drop of something to drink


bless my life miss pecksniffs cried mrs todgers aloud


your dear pas took very mr pecksniff straightened himself by a surprising effort us every one turned hastily towards him and standing on his feet re garded the assembly with a look of ineffable wisdom


gradually it gave place lo a smile a feeble uclplos melancholy smile bland almost to sickliuess


do not repine my friends said mr pecksniff tenderly


do not weep fur me


it is chronic


and with tbesc words after making a futile attempt to pull off his shoes he fell into the fireplace


the youngest gentleman iu company had him out iu a second


yes before a hair upon his head was singed he liad him on the hearth rug her father


she was almost beside herself


so was her sister


jinkins consoled them both


they all consoled them


everybody had something to say except the youngest gentleman in com pany who with a noble selfdevotion did the heavy work aud held up mr pecksniffs bead without being takeu any notice of by anybody


at last they gathered round and agreed to carry him upstuirs to bed


the youngest gen tleman in company was rebuked by jiukius for tearing mr pecksniffs coat


hal haj but no matter


they carried him upstairs and crushed the youngest gentleman at every step


uis bed room was at the top of the house and it was a lung way hut they got him there ill course of time


ue asked them frequently upon the road for a hate drop of something lo drink


it seemed au idiostcracy


the youngest gen tleman in company proposed a draught of water


mr pecksniff called hint opnruhious names for tbe suggestion


jiukins and gander took the rest upon them selves and made him as comfortable as they could on tbe outside of his bed and when he seemed disposed to sleep they left him


but before they had all gained the bottom of the staircase a vision of mr pecksniff strangely attired was seen to flutter on the top landing


lie desired lo collect their sentiments it seemed upon the nature of human life


my friends cried mr pecksniff looking over the banisters let us improve our miuds by mutual enquiry and discussion


ict us he moral


let us cuuletuulale existence


where is jiukiust


here cried that gentleman


go to bed qtobedlsaid mr pecksniff


bed


tis the voice of a sluggard i hear him complain you have woke me too suon i must slumber again


if any youug orphan will repeat the remainder of that simple piece from doctor watts collection an eligible opportunity now offers


nobody volunteered


this is very boothing said mr pecksniff after a pause


extremely so


cool and re freshing particularly to the legsl the legs of the human subject tuy friends are a beautiful production


compare oienl with wooden legs and observe tbe difference between the ana tomy of nature and the nimtwny of art


do you know said mr pecksniff leaning over the banisters with an odd recollection of his familiar manner among youug pupils at home that i should very much hke to see mrs tudgerss notion of a uoodeu leg if perfectly agreeable to herself


ab it appeared impossible to entertain any reasoaable hopes of him after this speech mr jinkins and mr gander went upstairs again and once more got him into bed


but they had not descended to the second floor before he was out again nor when they had repeated the process had they descended the first flight as he was shut up lu his own room he darted out afresh charged with some new moral sen timent which he continually repented over the banisters with extraordinary relish and an irrepressible desire for the improvement of his felluw creatures that nothing cuuld subdue


under these circumstances when they had got him into bed fur the thirtieth time or so mr jiukins held him while his companion went down stairs iu search or uailey junior with whom he presently returned


that youth having been apprised of the service required of him was iu great sniriu and brought up a su a candle and his supper to tbe end that he might keep watdi outside the bedroom door with tolerable comfort


when he had completed his arrangements they locked mr pecksniff in aud left the key on the outside charging the young page to lisljrn tjjif ivv inr


rvmntmnr


nr


fltiiftfi


nature with which tle patient might be troubled and in case of any such presenting themselves lo summon them without delay to which mr bailey modestly replied that lie hoped he kuowed not oclock


it was in gineral and didnt dute his letters to his friends irom todgerss for notiiiiig


to be continued


chapter xxii


from which it will be seen that martin became a lion on bis own account


together with the rea son why


as soon as it was generally known in the na tional hotel that the young englishman mr chuzzlewit had purchased a location in the valley of eden and intended to betake himself to that earthly paradise by the next steamboat he became a popular character


why this should be or how it had come to pass martin no more knew than mrs gamp ot kingsgate street holboru did but that he was for the time being the lion by popular election of the watertoast community aud that his society was in rather inconvenient request there could be no kind of doubt


the first notification he received of this change in his position was the following epistle written in a thin running hand with here and there a fat letter or two to make the general effect more striking on a sheet of paper ruled with blue lines


national hotel dear sir monday morning


when i had the privillidge of being your fellowtraveller in the cars the day befcre yes terday you offered some remarks upon the subject of the toner of london which in common with my fellowcitizens generally i would wish to hear repeated to a public audi ence


as secretary to the young mens water toast association of this town i am requested to inform you that the society will be proud to hear you deliver a lecture upon the tower of london at their hall tomorrow evening at at seven oclock and us a large issue of quarterdollar tickets may be expected your answer and consent by bearer will be con sidered obliging


dear sir yours truly la faybtte kettle


the honorable mr chuzzlewit


ps


the society would not be particular in limiting you to the tower of london


per mit me to suggest that any remarks upon the elements of geology or if more convenient upou the writings of your talented and witty countryman the honourable mr miller would be well received


very much aghast at this invitation martin wrote back civilly declining tl and had scarcely done so when he received another letter


no buoker


hill street private


monday morning


sir i was raised in those interminable solitudes where our mighty mississippi or father of waters rolls his turbid flood


am young aud ardent


for there is a poetry in wildness and every alligator basking tn the slime is in himself an epic sellcon tained


i aspirate for fame


it is my yearning and ray thirst


are you sir aware of any member of congress in england who would undertake to pay my expenses to that country and for eix months after my arrival


there is something within me which eives me the assurance that this enlightened pa tronage would not be thrown away


in lite rature or art the bar the pulpit or the stage in one or other if not all


i feel that i am certain to succeed


if too much engaged to write to any buch yourself please let me have a list of three or four of those most likely to respond nnd i will address them through the postoffice


may i nlso ask you to favour me with any critical observations that have ever presented them selves to your reflective faculties on cain a mystery by the right honourable lord byron


i am sir yours forgive me if i add soaringly potnam smip


p s address your answer to america junior messrs hancock floby dry goods store as above


both of which letters together with martins reply to each were according to a laudable custom much tending to the promotion of gentlemanly feeling and social confidence published in the next number of the water toast gazette


he had scarcely got through this corres pondence when captain kedgick the landlord kindly came up stairs to see bow he was getting on


the captain sat down upon the bed before he spoke and finding it rather hard moved to the pillow


well sir i said the captain putting his hat a little more on one side for it was rather tight in the crown youre quite a public man i caklate


so it seems retorted martin who was very tired


our citizens sir pursued the captain intend to pay their respects to you


you will have to bold a sort of le vee sir while youre here


powers above i cried martin i couldnt do that my good fellow


i


i reckon you must then said the captain


must is not a pleasant word captain urged martin


well i i didnt fix the mother language and i cant unfix it said the captain coolly else id make it pleasant


you must receive


thats all


but why should i receive people who care as much for me as care for them


asked martin


well i because ive had a muniment put up in the bar returned the captain


a what cried martin


a muniment rejoined the captain


martin looked despairingly at mark who informed him that the captain meant a written notice that mr chuzzlewit would receive the watertoasters that day at and after two oclock which was in effect the hanging in the bar as mark from ocular inspection of the same could testify


you wouldnt be unpopular know said the captain paring his nails


our citizens ant long of riling up i tell you and our gazette would flay you like a wild cat


martin was going to be very wroth but he thought better of it and said in heavens name let them come then


oh thcyl come returned the captain


i have seen the big room fixed apurpose with my eyes


but will you said martin seeing that the captain was about to gn will you at least tell me this


what do they want to see ine for


what have i done


and how do they hap pen to have such a sudden interest in met


captain kedgick put a thumb and three fingers to each side of the brim of his hat lilted it a little way off his head put it on again carefully passed one hand all down his face begining at the forehead and ending at the chin looked at martin then at mark then at martin again winked and walked out


upon my life now saii martin bring ing liis hand heavily on the table such a perfectly unaccountable fellow as that i never saw


mark what do you say to this i why sir returned his partner my opi nion is that we must have got to the most remarkable man in the country at last


so i hope theres an end of the breed sir


although this made martin laugh itcouldnt keep off two oclock


punctually as the hour struck captain kedgick returned to hand him to the room of state and he had no sooner got him safe there than he bawled down the staircase to his fellowcitizens below that mr chuzzlewit was receiving


up they came with a rush


up they came until the room was full and through the open door a dismal perspective of more to come was shown upon the stairs


one after another one after another dozen after dozen score after ccore more more more up they came all shaking hands with martin


such varieties of bands the thick the thiu the short the long the iat the lean the coarse the fine such differences of temperature the hot the cold the dry the moist the flabby such di versities of grasp the tight the loose the shortlived and the lingering i still up up up more more more and ever and anon the captains voice was heard above the crowd theres more below theres more below


now gentlemen you that have been intro rillfprl tn mr nhtlpnil will vnn roanr cran


tlemen


will you clear