Transcribers Note:

Unexpected spelling, punctuation, and inconsistent hyphenation have beenretained as they appeared in the original, except as listed at the endof the book. On Page 321 the gobbledegook "while the use nht psoe hwicfirt h tth em" has also been retained as it appears in the original. 

 FERN VALE OR THE QUEENSLAND SQUATTER. 

 A NOVEL. BY COLIN MUNRO. 

 IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL I. 

 LONDON: T. C. NEWBY, 30 WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. 

 MDCCCLXIL

 EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS, "The National Institution for Promoting the Employment of Women in the Art of Printing. "

PREFACE. 

Some fifteen years ago, when the first mention was made in the ImperialParliament of the intention of Her Majesty to dismember the Northerndistricts of New South Wales, for the purpose of establishing a refugefor the expatriated felons of Great Britain, a certain noble lord roseto enquire where New South Wales was, and whether it was anywhere in thevicinity of Botany Bay. 

Since the time of this sapient patrician much has been said, and morehas been written, respecting our antipodean empire; though I believe themass of the English people are still as unacquainted with thecharacteristics of the colony, and the manners of colonial life, as ifthe vast continent of Australia remained in its primitive inanition. Poor as is the knowledge of our friends "at home" respecting theirperiecian brethren, I grieve to say, with regard to, or rather of, theAustralian colonists, that knowledge is too frequently tinged withprejudice and erroneous impressions, formed from the writings ofdiscontented colonists, who, without a sufficiently lengthened residencein the country, or opportunities to form correct opinions, have not onlydisregarded facts, but have presumed to pass judgment upon what theyhave never appreciated or understood, and have written statementsdecidedly false and scandalous. 

It is notorious that in some circles of society, the bare mention ofAustralia in connexion with any one's name is sufficient to create afeeling of distrust and contempt, and the colonists are at once stampedas being, at least, something mean, with antecedents involved in asuspicious obscurity. Unfortunately there have been writers, too, whohave come before the public professing an intimate acquaintance with, and an impartial judgment of, colonial life, who have not failed to heapaspersions on the very name of the country and everything connected withit, and to envenom their writings with the rankest untruths. I have readaccounts of colonial society where it has been characterized as thevilest that can be imagined in a civilized state; where the men arespoken of as habitual debauchees, and the women as universallyshameless, immoral, and dissipated; where life and property areinsecure; and bushrangers are the terror of the inhabitants. 

I don't say such productions are numerous. I rejoice that they are not;but many people are inclined to receive such a description as a truthfulone, and to consider a true narration of facts as merely an over-drawnand flattering panegyric of an interested author. People have been longaccustomed to look upon Australia as only a place for convicts, and thepopulation, if not prisoners themselves or those who have served theirallotted term, at least as the descendants of those who have done so. Ihave frequently had the question gravely put to me whether or not suchis the case; and have experienced great difficulty in inducing peopleto believe otherwise. They forget, if indeed they ever knew, that manyleading men in this country owe their position in society to aprosperous career in the Australian colonies, and that more than halfthe colonial settlers are men of good family connexions who haveemigrated to improve their position in occupations which are at the sametime remunerative and honourable. 

When this is remembered, in conjunction with the fact thattransportation has been discontinued for many years, and that, after theexpiration of a convict's term of expatriation, if of an incorrigiblenature, he invariably returned to the "old country, " where he had awider field for the exercise of his genius, it can't but be seen that, generally, there must be a healthier tone of society in the colony thanis credited "at home;" while morality is quite on a par, if not abovethe ordinary level of British ethics. At the same time it is only butjust to state that the greater proportion of what vice does exist ischargeable to that wild and uncontrollable mass, which, generallyattracted to gold-producing countries, necessarily forms there thesubstratum of the working population; while the native born portion ofthe people is entitled to all praise for its strict propriety. To removethis stigma of _mauvais ton_, and establish our fair name in oppositionto the mal-impressions which have gained currency respecting theAustralian colonists, I have been induced to add another to the tales ofAustralian life, and to lay "Fern Vale" before the public. 

I don't enter the arena so much to defend the colonies collectively, asto present a fair face for the young one of Queensland, and to drawattention to it as a field for British labour, industry, and capital. And being disposed to think this description of work will find morefavour in the eyes of that class I would especially desire to attract, than a topographical and statistical treatise, I have blended facts withfiction to present my volume to the public in such a form as to affordamusement with information. I have endeavoured to depict life andmanners as they exist in Queensland, and to describe the country, itsclimate, and capabilities. The leading political topics of the day Ihave also lightly touched upon; but, while craving the indulgence of thepublic in these interpolations, I may remark I have only treated them toa very cursory glance; considering that, in the present mutable stateof legislation in Queensland, to enter more fully into detail would beinadvisable. The colony is young, but the government is infantine;though, notwithstanding that it is little more than two years old, ithas proved itself indefatigable, concise, and beneficial in itsworkings; and many a local incubus has been removed, and many a longfelt desideratum been supplied, during its short period of existence. 

To illustrate what the district was, and what it had to labour under, Ihave drawn all my characters as existing under the _regime_ prior to thefelicitous epoch of "separation. " But to prevent my readers from formingan erroneous impression of our model colony, I will succinctly furnish asynopsis of our march of improvement. 

The old iniquitous land system has been abolished; and in its place onesubstituted similar to what I have mentioned in this work as being thescheme of Dr. Lang. One of the first acts of the new government was tosweep away the trite and cumbersome machinery of the old system, bymaking nugatory the existing law of the parent colony, and to pass anact which, for liberality, perhaps stands unequalled. Its main featuresare--for pastoral purposes--occupation and settlement, with right oftenure, subject to a rental of one farthing per acre per annum; and foragricultural lands--free selection for purchase at the fixed rate of onepound per acre, with a right to rent in contiguity thrice the quantitypurchased for a period of five years at a yearly rental of sixpence peracre, with the option of purchase at the expiration of the lease, atthe residue of the purchase money, viz. , 17s. 6d. Per acre. To allimmigrants paying their own passage, a remission of their passage moneyis granted in an equivalent of land. This, with the activity of thegovernment in throwing large tracts of land into the market, has doneaway with a good many of the abuses detailed in our narrative; moreespecially the "station jobbing, " attributed to Bob Smithers, and thevexatious detentions to small capitalists desirous of becoming farmers. Another of its features is the inducement held out to theagriculturalist to cultivate cotton in the shape of bounties almostamounting to the value of the staple. The towns have also been benefitedby the establishment of municipalities which have removed many longstanding nuisances. The old forensic injustice, and judicialburlesques, have been annihilated by the appointment of district policemagistrates; and, in fact, the whole country and people have "gone ahead. "

With regard to the incidents of my story I may say that, almost withoutan exception, they are facts well known to Moreton Bay people; and, though I have used some discrimination in their collocation, so as to acertain extent to shield the actual actors from the public gaze, I havein no way exceeded the margin of truth. The scene at the "Bullock'sHead, " I must guard against any charge of plagiarism by stating, is thedescription of an actual occurrence which took place not many years agoin the town of Brisbane, and, if I mistake not, the principal actor inwhich is still living, and in this country. Captain Jones' marriage, its results, the poisoning, murder, and protection society, are alldrawn from life; though, as I've said before, varied in theirarrangement. Neither have I indulged in any flights of the imaginationin depicting the horrible, but rather subdued the poignancy of theoriginal; particularly in the case of the murder, which in my hands hasreceived considerable detrition. Though the proceedings of "the society"may be said to be the "coinage of my brain, " I have not hazarded such anaccusation, as is contained in their narration, without being possessedof sufficiently authentic information to warrant me in doing so. Afterthe melancholy event, from which I borrowed the idea of the StrawberryHill massacre, it is known for a fact that the blacks mysteriouslydisappeared from the country; while the squatters were out in arms forweeks scouring the bush, and made no secret of their enrollment for amutual protection. At the same time I have heard a settler of thedistrict, and one of considerable means and standing, when alcohol hadstimulated his nerves and courage, boast that he had shot _hundreds_ ofblacks; and have also heard others speak of such an action as merely anunpleasant necessity. I must caution my readers, however, from imaginingthat, because the tragical event which immediately precedes the_denoument_ of my plot occupies so conspicuous a place in the narrative, such dangers are incidental to a residence in the bush. Far from it. Security reigns supreme; and I merely engrafted the too well knowncatastrophe to my compilation to add interest to the tale. Suchvisitations are, happily, not to be heard of once in a generation, andthen only on the extreme borders of civilisation. Convicts are nolonger noticeable, and bushrangers are only known as myths or scourgesof historical notoriety. 

The peculiar idiom of the blacks, in their conversation with thesettler, I have introduced to give some idea of the unintelligible andperiphrastic jargon the whites have to adopt to make themselvesunderstood. And so accustomed do the squatters, and their men, become inits use that they naturally fall into it whenever they experience anydifficulty in making themselves understood by any one not acquaintedwith their language. Hence all foreigners, of whom, especially Germansand Chinese, there are a great many in the colony, who have not athorough knowledge of the English tongue when they come to the country, acquire this peculiar phraseology. 

I fear I must crave the pardon of many of my friends for havingintroduced into my book some little episodes in their personal historywhich they may not have desired to have had laid before the world. But, though such may be recognisable to themselves, I feel safe in expressingmy confidence that to the public they will remain hid by the veil offiction. 

LONDON, _1st May 1862_. 

CHAPTER I. 

 "Sister, farewell: I must to Coventry; As much good stay with thee, as go with me. "

 RICHARD II. , _Act_ 1, _Sc. _ 2. 

"Good-bye, Kate, I can't help leaving you at least for a time; and if wecan make any settlement with Smithers for any of his country, you knowI'll soon be back for you: so don't make me disheartened by seeing youso melancholy. John has started some time since with the pack-horses, and seeing you had run away from the parlour while the governor wastalking to me, I have followed you to see you look cheerful, and getanother kiss before we part. My mother thinks me already on the road, and Joey is only strapping on my valise to the saddle. "

"I shall be so lonely, Will, when you are gone; I'll have no one to ridewith, and as for kangaroos, I am sure I shall not see one until youreturn, for you know Papa never cares about going out with the dogs. Youmay as well take the poor things with you, for they will be of no usehere; they will be company and afford amusement to you. "

"Oh, never mind them, Kitty, I'm for work not sport; but come now dry upyour tears, and while I am away be sure and make yourself a proficientin housekeeping, because you know, if we succeed in forming a station, as soon as we can get up a decent sort of a 'humpie, ' and comfortablysettled, I will come and fetch you; and know thou, my Kitty darling, ifyou do not make your brothers as contented as they in their graciouswill shall desire, they will publish throughout the length and breadthof the land the short-comings of their pert little sister; and thedecree once gone forth that our Kitty is a useless little baggage, andnot fit to be a squatter's wife, what will she do then?"

"She will tell her brothers' friends that she is the persecuted victimof a pair of ungrateful fellows, who are never satisfied with anythingthat is done for them, and I know which of us they will believe. But, Willie, Mr. Wigton tells us the blacks are very troublesome down whereyou are going: will there be any danger in living there?"

"Not the slightest, my dear: it is all nonsense the way in whichcroakers talk about the blacks. Some of our imperious settlers, by theirown conduct, encourage them to commit depredations and to revengewrongs; but, for my part, I never knew a black fellow make an unprovokedaggression, whereas Mr. Wigton merely speaks from what he has been toldby the squatters. "

"Well, but, Willie, you say the country is quite unoccupied: will notthe natives be dreadfully wild, and easily provoked to commit somehorrible act? Would it not be better to avoid any risk, by getting astation in some more settled part of the country?"

"Believe me, my pet, your fears are perfectly groundless; I have hadmore experience with the blacks than most people, and I have nounpleasant apprehensions from our squattage. However, our speculationsare all in precedence of our plans, and your objections are onlyadvanced on conjecture; it will be quite time for you to disparage ourhome when we have formed one, and I can assure you, my dear Kate, neither John nor I would wish you to leave the security of our parents'roof for our protection, if by so doing you would imperil your preciouslittle self. But, even if there were any danger to us, to you, Ibelieve, there would be none; unless indeed it were to be carried off bysome bold, adventurous, and enthusiastic son of the soil to receive thehomage of his illustrious countrymen as their tutelary angel. But toprevent any such predatory outrage, we will form ourselves into abody-guard and enlist the services of all the knights-errant of theneighbourhood. "

"You are an impudent fellow, and I have a good mind to give at once myrefusal to go; but if you do settle there, I hope you will cultivate theacquaintance of some nice people, if there are any near you. "

"Nice gentlemen you mean, I know. Oh, yes! I will try and oblige you onthat point; but good-bye, Kate, I must be off. "

With this remark concluded the colloquy of William Ferguson and hissister, Kate; and after a mutual embrace, the young man bounded from theroom, and in a few minutes might have been seen riding through the bushat a sharp canter, in company with his black boy, Joey, to overtake hisbrother on the road, who, as the reader has already learnt, left thehouse some time previously with the pack-horses, laden with theprovisions and necessary articles requisite for their journey. While weleave the young men to proceed on their way, and their sister sittinglistlessly gazing with tearful eyes through the open window of thedrawing-room, conjuring in her imagination the scenes through which herbrothers were about to pass, we will cursorily glance at the familywhose acquaintance we have just made. 

Mr. Ferguson, the elder, the proprietor of Acacia creek, where we findourselves for the _nonce_ located, was a gentleman who had attained themeridian of life, though years sat lightly on his open brow. He was talland handsome, robust in constitution, affable, benign, and hospitable indisposition; a fond father, and one of the most respected settlers inthe district of which he was a magistrate. As his history is somewhatromantic, the reader may be disposed to pardon the digression, in ourstopping here to give a brief outline of it. 

John Ferguson, who was a native of Scotland, and a member of an ancientfamily who prided itself on its blood and lineage more than on itsvirtues and frugality, was early left to battle with the world throughthe prodigality of a parent, whose greatest pleasure was to keep themost hospitable board in his county, and whose greatest dread was to bestigmatised with (what was to him the _acme_ of derogation) meanness andparsimony. Though the family, through the extravagance of its head, wasreduced to extreme penury, it was with the utmost difficulty the prideand prejudices of the father could be overcome, to be induced to allowhis son to accept an appointment in a government office in London, whichhad been obtained through the intervention of a well-wisher of thefamily, and offered to the young man. 

The course of life, which the acceptance of this situation would open tothe fancy of young Ferguson, was congenial to his ardent imagination andenthusiastic spirit. He therefore joyfully accepted the post, which waskindly and delicately offered as a means of employment and support tohimself and of pecuniary relief to his parents, as a stepping-stone tofortune; while the romance with which his disposition was tinged, servedto picture to his prophetic vision, scenes of official gradation andpre-eminence. How often do young men of similar temperament indulge inthe same enticing speculations, and allow themselves to be carried awayby the blissful creations of a fertile fancy; alas! only to awake fromthe intoxication of their delightful dream, to realize the pangs of abitter disappointment, and a total dispersion of all their brightesthopes. Not that we deprecate the indulgence of such romantic feelings. We believe it frequently produces that emulation, by which a perseveringand indomitable spirit is frequently enabled to realize the dreams ofthe bright imaginative fertility of youthful ardency; but, as we shallpresently see it was in the case of young Ferguson, so it is too oftenin general life, that such visions are doomed to speedy dissipation. 

In due time the young man entered upon the duties of his office with azeal commensurate to the exalted nature of his expectancy; but the idealvarnish of his mental conception speedily vanished under the hardbrushing of a monotonous official routine, and his romance succumbed tothe realities of a mundane experience. Though the appointment, to whichour young friend had been inducted, was all that could have been desiredfor the scion of a noble house, whose pampered whims and vices were tobe ministered to by the lavish hand of a fond parent, and where thedisplay of mental abilities was no more necessary than in the propulsionof the mechanism of one of Her Majesty's establishments erected for theambulating exercises of petty delinquents, yet to a young andhigh-spirited nature, such as John Ferguson's, the very absence of anyintellectual requirements in the performance of the duties devolvingupon him, caused him soon to feel a distaste for the service; while theindolence and self-importance practised and assumed by his colleagues(and so much emulated by the class of candidates for such honours) wereto him extremely irksome and disagreeable, and early caused hisenergetic disposition to be dissatisfied with his position. 

He had been some little time in his office, and began to experience thefeelings which we have described, when, through the instrumentality ofthe kind friend to whom he was indebted for his appointment, he began tocirculate in that society which by his family connexions he was entitledto mix in. To say he was not fascinated with the polish, gaieties, andpleasures of a fashionable town life, would be to conceal the truth:though, at the same time, we must say their hollowness soon becameapparent to his mind; and he, instead of following the example of mostmen in similar circumstances, and making himself the slave to thepleasures and dissipations of the fashionable world, looked calmly onthe allurements of society, and preserved a perfect control over hismind and morals. During the vortex of a London season, he added to thelist of his friends a merchant of considerable standing, and of verylarge reputed wealth. In the house of this gentleman, who was pleasedwith the young man's sterling qualities, apparent to the quickperception of the man of business, he received a _carte blanche_; andthence commenced the intimacy which formed the romance of his life. 

Mr. Williamson, the gentleman of whom we have spoken, had an onlydaughter, the mistress of his house, and the idol of his heart and ofall who knew her. She was beautiful in the extreme. Her disposition wasof the sweetest description, and fully justified the lavishment of thefond parental affection with which she was blessed; while her amiabilitywas only equalled by her dutiful attention and consideration of thesmallest wish of her kind and doating parent. That such a being shouldarrest the notice of a young man of the temperament of John Ferguson isnot to be wondered at, nor that his attention was rivetted on her thefirst moment his eyes were gladdened with the seraphic vision. The firstfeeling of admiration soon gave place to a sentiment of a warmer kind, and it was not long ere young Ferguson was hopelessly entangled in themeshes of Cupid's net, deeply immersed in the sea of love; which, forhis ardent nature, was of that turbulent kind that knew no control, norexperienced any pleasure, except in the society of his fair enslaver. This feeling was long kept a secret within his own bosom, and his timeglided happily by in the sweet countenance of this charming creature, content in the privilege of loving, and fearful lest a disclosure of hissentiment should break the spell. 

Love is a strange emotion; its inexplicable workings operate with anoccult influence, irresistible and unaccountable; and while our heartsreceive a glow and pleasure at the mere contemplation of the object ofour love, our selfish gratification blinds us to all but our own extaticdelight, and eliminates from our minds all considerations not directlytending to a consummation of our desires. At the same time our cowardiceoften operates on our fancies so as to create fears, lest to the objectof whom we are enamoured we prove indifferent, and we fancy ourselvesalmost criminal for loving. Though possibly not a common phase in the_esprit d'amour_, it was, nevertheless, the one in which burnt the lampof our friend; for though he loved Miss Kate Williamson to distraction, he never ventured to breathe one word to her that was likely to disclosethe fire that consumed his heart. 'Tis true her manner to him, thoughcordial in the extreme, was not such as to inspire him with the ideathat his love was reciprocated. With the high sense of her filial duty, she conceived herself bound to receive the authorized attentions of agentleman possessing the warrant of her father's friendship, and, inreturn for that friend's civilities, to tender those little captivatingmannerisms, and throw into her receptions and interviews those sweet andwinning ways, so peculiar to beings of her stamp. Beyond that, however, she gave him no encouragement. It may be she soon perceived, what JohnFerguson failed to conceal, the pleasure which he enjoyed while in hersociety; it may also be that those visits, which she at first considereda duty to her parent to receive, she afterwards welcomed with receptionsas warm and cordial as possible, compatible with her own modesty; and itmay be true that she began to admire their visitor for his own merits, and reciprocate pleasure in their numerous interviews, while she littledreamt, that what she considered the mere acts of hospitality, weremaking such havoc in the breast of John Ferguson. He, on the other hand, while admiring the bright object ever in his mind, feared venturing adisclosure, which, in his position and prospects, his consciencewhispered to him would be considered presumptuous. Thus matters rested, until a fortuitous circumstance broke the spell that bound these twoyoung hearts, and disclosed to each the transitory nature of theirdream. 

A young physician of considerable practice, good connexions, gentlemanlymanners, and prepossessing appearance, and who had long been known toand intimate with the family, in an interview with Mr. Williamson, declared his admiration for his daughter's virtues, and expressed anesteem for herself, that justified the father in sanctioning his requestto be admitted as an acknowledged suitor for the young lady's hand; andhis pretensions to her regards were supported by her father, whobelieved their congeniality of tempers would render such an alliancehappy and prosperous. 

Miss Williamson listened to the appeals of her admirer, we must admit, with satisfaction; and though his addresses were not distasteful, shefelt a pang in her heart that plainly told her it was already possessedby another. It required but this spark to kindle the flame that had longbeen smoldering in her breast; and at the moment when, had she not knownJohn Ferguson, she would have been pleased and flattered with theprotestations of her suitor, she felt disappointed and distressed thatthose proposals had not emanated from another source. The verycontemplation of this disappointment increased the warmth and ardour ofher affection for young Ferguson, while it annihilated all thoughts ofthe other; and even, respecting as she did the wishes of her father, shecould offer no encouragement to his medical friend. The young son ofGalen, unacquainted as he was with the real state of the lady'sfeelings, attributed her taciturn abstraction to the innate modesty ofher nature, and therefore delicately refrained from pressing proposalswhich he perceived she was not prepared to entertain. Contemplating theresumption of the subject at a future time, when the lady's mind wouldhave in all probability recovered the shock, which he imagined wasoccasioned by the novelty of her situation, he left her, while heexpressed the deepest devotion and unalterable attachment. 

Shortly after this interview, the young men met at the table of theirhospitable host; and there for the first time John Ferguson discoveredthe position in which the young physician stood to the family. Hewatched with a jealous eye the movements of his rival, who, thoughnoticing a peculiarity in his young friend's manner, never dreamt of thetrue cause of his dejection. The contention in the breast of the ladywas equally painful; for, while she divined the nature of Ferguson'smelancholy, and was aware that the young doctor's attentions to herwould lead her taciturn lover to imagine she was gratified with andencouraged them, she could give him no clue to her own feelings; whileher devotion to parental authority deterred her from slighting her morevoluble admirer, and her kind and amiable disposition shrank fromassuming a state of feelings foreign to her nature. John Fergusonretired from the presence of his loved one, with a heavier heart than hehad ever experienced before; and, after being the prey to a series ofmental convulsions, at a late hour of the night he retired, not tosleep, but to a further meditation in a horizontal position. The morningdawned without any alleviation of his miseries, and, on the impulse ofhis natural impetuosity, he formed those plans which entirely alteredthe course of his subsequent prospects and career. 

The Australian colonies, at this time, were attracting public attention, and John Ferguson determined to escape from his thraldom and misery, bychalking out a home for himself at the antipodes; his fancy lending itsaid to picture the realisation of a fortune, and the oblivion of hismisplaced affection. This resolution once formed, he determined tocarry it out in such a way as to preclude the possibility of beingdeterred by any undue influence; and without acquainting any of hisfriends of his designs, he took his departure, merely writing to hismother the cause of his sudden flight. In this letter to his parent, asmay be imagined, he expatiated on the beauty, grace, accomplishments, and virtues of the unwitting instrument of his expatriation; confessedhis undying love with his usual enthusiasm, and expressed his belief inher perfect indifference to his sufferings. He also stated that the ladyhad accepted the addresses of another; and while he deprecated hisinability, through the disparity of their positions, to make any formaladvances or obtain a footing of equality with his more favoured rival, he declared his decision, rather than submit to the torture he wasenduring, to leave the country and constitute himself in a distant landthe architect of his own fortune. He concluded by breathing thetenderest affection for his parents, and entreating their forgivenessfor his seeming neglect, in parting from them in so cold andunceremonious a manner. 

The surprise and consternation of the young man's friends, occasioned bythe receipt of this letter, may well be imagined; and if John Fergusonhad not been bordering on insanity when he made his rash resolve, hewould have hesitated ere he had been the cause of that anguish, which, in his calmer moments, he well knew would be felt. But the past wasirrevocable; and the remorse he felt for his neglect and inconsideracy, as his native land receded from his view, still further embittered aspirit surcharged with grief. 

The painful throes of his mother's heart, felt at the loss of her son, was far surpassed by the indignation of his father, who, with hisconsanguineous prejudices, and supercilious contempt for richesunaccompanied by birth, deemed the claims of his son by blood farsuperior to the pretensions of the plebeian trader. He only saw in theconfessions of his son, the result of a deep-laid plot for hisentrapment and ruin, and could only believe his malady to be the resultof a collusion on the part of Miss Williamson and her father, by whosejoint wiles and chicanery the young man's peace of mind had beendestroyed, and he driven from the land. In the firm belief of this, hewrote to Mr. Williamson, adverting in the strongest terms to the injuryhe conceived himself to have sustained at his hands, couching hisepistolary invective in no very polite or considerate language, andenclosing the young man's letter to his mother as a documentary proof. 

This communication had the effect, at first, of raising the merchant'sire; but, upon more deliberate consideration, his wrath gave way to pityfor the father, in whom, through the haughtiness of his clannish spirit, he could detect the anguish for a son's loss, and for the young man, whose sudden disappearance had been to him inexplicable, but in whoseconduct he discovered the workings of an honourable nature. With thisfeeling in his breast, he forewent the indulgence of that animosity thatwas likely to be occasioned by the letter from the old laird; and hereplied to it in a strain of cordiality and commiseration, disavowing, on the part of himself and his daughter, the application of anyinfluence on the feelings of his son calculated to destroy his peace ofmind; and denying, until the perusal of the young man's letter, anyknowledge of his sentiments towards his daughter, and his entireignorance of the cause of his disappearance. We may premise, that thisexplanation brought no further intercourse between the heads of thefamilies, and that Mr. Williamson, though he believed that, if theintimacy between his daughter and young Ferguson had continued, theesteem which she entertained for his young friend would have developeditself into a reciprocation of those sentiments which it was evident hadactuated the young man in his confession and flight; yet, at the sametime, he did not conceive it possible, in the absence of any confessionto his daughter, that such feelings could have existed in her breast. Therefore he deemed it quite unnecessary to explain to her theinformation he had obtained, more especially as she had made no enquiryas to the cause of Ferguson's absence, nor even mentioned his name. Though, as we have said, Miss Williamson preserved a perfect silence onthe name of the absentee, yet she was fully sensitive to the nature ofhis feelings, and pretty shrewdly divined the cause of his flight. Inthe midst of this, while the lady's mind was racked by love, pity, anddisappointment, the young physician pressed for a further contemplationof his suit, and met with a repulse; which, though kind, and expressiveof gratitude, was such as to smother any hope that he might haveentertained of the possession of her devotion. To her father, thisdecision was the annihilation of a long cherished expectancy; butrespecting his child's feelings, and being convinced she must have beenactuated by some strong motives in her refusal, he refrained frompressing the cause of his friend, or enquiring the nature of hisdaughter's objections. It was only then that the light flashed acrosshis mind, that his daughter might have loved young Ferguson; and he thendetermined, through his correspondents in New South Wales, to whichcolony the young man had emigrated, to keep his eye upon him; and, ifconducive to the happiness of his daughter, to further his prospects byan unforeseen agency. 

Some time had elapsed from the period of which we speak; and youngFerguson, by his persevering industry, and the influence and assistanceof some friends, who had sought and cultivated his acquaintance throughthe solicitation of his kind and generous patron, Mr. Williamson, hadobtained a position of comfort and moderate competency. In the meantime, matters had gone on with the Williamsons very much as usual, until themental anxiety, occasioned by some severe reverses in busines, hadprostrated the merchant on a bed of sickness, where the affectionateenergies of the daughter, in her ministerial responsibilities, weredisplayed in their brightest effulgence. 

During one of her occasions of attendance, she was requested by herfather to select from papers in his cabinet some documents to which hewished to refer; and while in the execution of this duty, her eyechanced to fall upon one, the peculiar chirography of which was strangeto her, though in its body she more than once caught the repetition ofher own name. She took up the paper to satisfy herself as to itsauthorship, and her surprise was immeasurable when she glanced at theextended sheet and noticed the autograph of John Ferguson, andthroughout the whole epistle discovered the fervent breathings of a deepaffection for herself. From the reverie into which she fell, she wasaroused by the voice of her father, and retracing her steps slowly andnoiselessly to his bedside, while giving vent to her emotions in a deepsigh, she placed the letter in his hands. The sick man glanced at it, and then at the face of his daughter, who answered his enquiring look byputting the question, "and this sacrifice, then, was for me?"

"Say not sacrifice, my child, " replied the parent; "the young man hasprospered as he deserved. I periodically hear of his welfare; for, believing from circumstances that transpired that you sympathized withhim, I felt an interest in his career. I now see that my surmises werecorrect, that you loved one another, though nothing on the subject wasever breathed between you; and I have no fear, if God spares me to risefrom this bed, but that I shall shortly see you both happy. "

He was as good as his word; for, being soon sufficiently recovered toresume his occupation, he took an early opportunity of correspondingwith young Ferguson, explaining how he came into possession of thesecret of his heart; how he had made himself acquainted with the courseof his life, relating the circumstance of his discovering his daughter'sfeelings; and expressing his entire concurrence in their marriage, ifthe young man retained his attachment. It is almost unnecessary to say, this brought a response in person, and resulted in the happy union ofthe young people. Mr. Williamson, whose business had not prospered verywell of late years, broke up his establishment and accompanied hisdaughter and son-in-law to Sydney, where he settled; while the youngcouple proceeded to the station of the bridegroom. It is at this spot wenow find them still located, happy and prosperous, and blessed with afamily of whom they were justly proud. 

The eldest son, John, was a fine handsome young man, of abouttwo-and-twenty, tall and robust, with regular and pleasing features, rather florid complexion, light brown hair, beard and moustache, with adisposition kind and generous, and a manner sedate and retiring. Ourfriend William, whose acquaintance we have already formed, was a finelively fellow of about twenty, not quite so tall as his brother, with acheerful and pleasant countenance, a profusion of rich curly flaxenhair, and a disposition the counterpart of his father's. Their sister, Kate, was the third. She was about eighteen years of age, in the firstblush and florescence of youth; the idol of her parents, and the pet ofher brother William (whom she resembled in her disposition andcomplexion), while she seemed to have inherited her mother's beauty andvirtues. Besides these, there were three other children, two girls and aboy; but as we shall have no occasion to notice them in our narrative, we will merely mention that they were as pretty and interesting, and aswell conducted and dutiful, as children usually are. 

Though this family had rarely been away from their home in the bush, andseldom called upon to exercise their hospitality on others than theneighbouring settlers, or receive their father's magisterial friends, they possessed all the acquirements of a polished education, and theease, grace, and elegance of a fashionable training, more as an inherentquality of their nature than as the effect of example from theirneighbours. 

CHAPTER II

 "Then blessings all. Go, children of my care, To practice now, from theory repair. "

 POPE. 

When William Ferguson left the presence of his sister, he hastened withhis sable attendant to overtake his brother; whom he joined a few mileson the road. As might have been gathered from his conversation with hissister, the object of the brothers in undertaking their present journey, was to visit some tracts of country, the right of tenure to which wasoffered them by the possessor for sale; and if the nature of the countrypleased and suited their views, it was the intention of their father topurchase it, and start them in life, by giving them sufficient sheep tocommence stocking it. To decide upon the eligibleness of the run, theyhad appointed to meet the vendor at his station, and to proceed togetherto the ground, inspect it, and form their own opinion of itscapabilities. With this intention, they had left Acacia creek early inthe day, to enable them to reach the town of Warwick before night, andtheir place of appointment by the close of the third day. 

New England, in the northern portion of which their father's station wassituated, is separated from what was then known as the Moreton Baydistrict by a geographical boundary, formed by the peculiar face of thecountry; consisting of stony plains and bare ridges, and establishing anatural division in the courses of the rivers, the routes of traffic, and the intercourse of the people. 

Moreton Bay, which is situated on the eastern shore of the Australiancontinent, about five hundred miles north of Sydney, was first settledas a penal colony in the year 1824, and retained its position, as one ofthe vilest hells and sinks of iniquity, until the year 1842; when, tosatisfy the enterprizing demand of the settlers for new country tooccupy with their herds, convicts were withdrawn, and the districtthrown open to free settlement. The country to the back of this, andskirting the coast, is mostly undulating; in some parts very broken andhilly, and traversed by rivers of considerable size. Parallel to thecoast line, at an average distance of from fifty to seventy miles, theland rises abruptly and almost precipitously, in what is called the"Main Range, " to an altitude of some three thousand feet, and extends inrich and fertile plains for thousands of square miles. This table-land, covered with the most luxurient pasturage, and displaying an unbrokenextent of splendid country, like a succession of highly cultivatedparks, is known as the "Darling Downs, " and at the time of Mr. Ferguson's settlement of Acacia creek was conceived to be only atrackless waste, offering no inducement to squatters to risk their livesand property in its settlement or exploration. Such, however, was therapidity, when its value became known, with which flocks after flockspoured into "the Downs, " following the footsteps of the first pioneer, that in the course of a few years, what was before an unknownwilderness, became one of the most favoured and thriving of the pastoraldistricts of the colony. It was approaching this delectable land, then, that we left our young heroes, when making this digression. 

They had journeyed some time over these dividing plains, depending morein their course upon the position of the sun, than on any visible roador track, when they determined to push on for Warwick; as, owing to thedilatory manner in which they had been riding, they had still a longdistance to proceed, and the sun was fast sinking on the horizon. Theyaccordingly urged their horses into a sharp canter; and soon emergedfrom the barren part through which they had been journeying, into themore hospitable country approaching the town; where they purposedhalting for the first night. 

As the sun sank below the western hills our travellers drew near, by oneof the three converging roads, the antipodean town of Warwick; which, todescribe to the reader, we need only to say, seen at a short distance, bears a striking resemblance to an English village, and will sustainvery creditable comparison with some of the prettiest in our blessed andfavoured isle. This view, however, the young men were not at the timepermitted to enjoy; as in that country, where there is little or notwilight, darkness almost instantly succeeds sunset; and the panoramathat lay stretched before them was rendered indistinct by the fastapproaching shades of night. Pleasing as Warwick appears at a distantview, upon a close inspection the favourable impression of a stranger islikely in a great measure to be dispelled; for there is about it, incommon with all other bush towns, an air of carelessness anddiscomfort, calculated to destroy the interest felt by its extremefreshness and novelty. One or two pretty wide streets may be noticedlaid out at right angles, their lines and extent being presented to theeye, by the fences enclosing the inhabitants' properties, andresidences; which are sparsely distributed over the extent of thesettlement; frequently leaving entire unenclosed gaps in the lines ofstreets. The houses are built according to the will or caprice of theowner, without any degree of uniformity, in all imaginable positions, and of all possible architecture; some few of brick, but the majority ofwood (either weather-board or slab). Here, you may see a fine brickedifice facing the main street, containing possibly a large shop andstore-house, with a comfortable dwelling; and forming one line ofbuildings, which are faced by a deep verandah, on the part of whichbefore the shop goods of all descriptions may be seen exposed. This iseasily recognised as the establishment of the principal store-keeper ofthe town; while his less opulent trading brethren carry on theirvocations in humbler tenements. On the opposite side of the street willbe perceived a long one-storied building, also with a verandah (on towhich all the rooms open by means of French lights); and, even withoutthe aid of the pendent sign, would be readily distinguished as theprincipal hotel. In one end of the building will be situated the bar, where the common herd congregate in their libations, and in the otherthe coffee-room; where the more exalted lords of the creation assembleto discuss, at the same time, the liquors and edibles of mine host, their own local politics, and bucolic topics; ever the subjects ofparamount importance to the squatter. 

In all probability, the next habitation will be a slab hut, roofed withsheets of bark; the whole structure standing on a spot of ground abouteight feet square, not even dignified or protected by a fence, andcontrasting strangely with the adjoining property. Here we will have anenclosure of about an acre of ground; displaying, in its tastefully laidout grass plots and flower beds, the neatly trimmed creepers, and theair of order and comfort about the pretty little cottage which stands inthe centre of this Eden, the taste for refinement, tranquillity, permanent settlement, and happiness, so rarely to be met with in thebush. The cottage is a square four-roomed one, with detached kitchen andout-houses. It is built of what are called weather boards, that isplanks sawn diagonally so as to be of the thickness of about one inch atone edge, and about a quarter of an inch on the other. In theconstruction of such a house, the form, or skeleton, is erected first, and these boards are then affixed so as to overlap one another; eachplank as it is put on being made to cover, with its thick side, the thinedge of the one preceding it: thus being alike impervious to wind andweather. The roof is shingled, or, in other words, covered with piecesof wood split into much the same shape as narrow slates, and put on in asimilar manner. The cottage has a verandah on its front, enclosed by asmall railing, tastefully painted, and ornamented with a few runningplants, which intwine its posts; and, while charming the eye, lend thedelicacy of their fragrance to render to this spot the enchantment of anArcadian bower, when the family adjourn thence from the interior of thehouse, to enjoy the refreshing zephyrs of the summer evenings. Thewindows facing this verandah are made to open in the French fashion, sothat, upon opening any one of them, a person can step out at once; theyare protected from the sun by venetians, which are generally foldedback, and which, with the railings of the verandah, are painted green, while the house itself is scrupulously white. The door is of polishedcedar, and adorned with a bright brass knocker and plate, which maypossibly have done service in London, or some other city or town in theold country. Picture such a spot as this in the imagination, kindreader; and some idea may be formed of the residence of the medical manof the place. 

The feeling of admiration, occasioned by witnessing the charmingdomicile of the local disciple of Æsculapius, is only equalled by thedisgust experienced at gazing on the apparent wreck, filth, and squallorof the next tenement. Standing contiguous is another such hut; preventedonly by the support of a stout pole, which props its frail and shakenframe, from ending that miserable existence of which it seems ashamed;while it proclaims its humility by an apparent emulation of the postureof that far-famed structure of Pisa. This dwelling is probably followedby an edifice of a similar kind, though of more spacious dimensions andsolid construction; and, by the sparks emitted from a low chimney, thedin of the workman's hammer, and the dull heavy sound of the bellows, isdistinguished as the abode of the village Vulcan; while the surroundingyard, with drays in various stages of dilapidation, wheels, poles, axles, and other dismemberments strewing the ground, presents theappearance of a perfect vehicular golgotha. With one or two wool-ladendrays drawn up before a public-house, in which the guardians of thetractive animals, and who are designated bullock-drivers, are solacingthemselves with a plentiful libation of the liquor which cheers and alsoinebriates; a similar ponderous vehicle, stationed before the door ofthe first described premises, undergoing the operation of lading withstores for a distant station; a few horses tied up to the posts in frontof the hotels; a few equestrians; as many pedestrians; a sprinkling ofthe sable sons of the soil in all imaginable variety of costumes, composed of the left-off garments of their fair-skinned brethren; here, a gigantic denizen of the forest standing in the centre of a street, raising his majestic head high above the settlement, and seeming to lookdown with lofty contempt on the scenes enacted beneath him; there, thecharred stump of another tree, with its semi-calcined trunk lying by itsside, where it had fallen at some remote period, perhaps years beforethe settlement had been thought of; but had never been removed, on theprinciple that each burgess thought it no business of his, and the onemost interested and affected never dreaming that a small personal outlayof money and trouble would be of considerable benefit and advantage tohimself; in the wet weather, with the streets, which are nothing but thesurface soil without any improvement, save the hardening of continualtraffic in the dry season, transformed into a mass of mud and mire, intowhich drays sometimes sink to their axles, equestrians to their horse'sknees, and foot passengers, unless well acquainted with their location, often plunge only to extricate themselves with the loss of a boot; andwith the occasional enclosures in the neighbourhood, of paddocks more orless covered with trees, interspersed by numerous fallen and rottingtrunks, half burnt logs, and gigantic stumps, the reader has a generaldescription of bush towns, and (with some slight and insignificantmodifications) of the town of Warwick. They rarely have much industry, and as little enterprise; while, there being no extensive demand forartistic or mechanical labour, and no agricultural pursuits, theinhabitants are generally dependent upon the trade arising from theirintercourse with the squatters. 

As we have already informed the reader, it was nearly dark when theyoung Fergusons rode into Warwick; and dismounting at the door of the"Bullock's Head, " leaving their horses and packs to the charge of theirblack boy Joey, they ensconced themselves in the general apartment ofthe hostlery dignified by the name of coffee-room. If the room had fewpretensions to elegance, it had less to cleanliness, and least of all tocomfort; its furniture consisted of a long table, protected by anoil-cloth cover, on which stood a hand bell, and a jug containing waterof very questionable purity. Around it were arranged a number of solidcedar chairs, in the manufacture of which the desideratum to beattained seemed to have been a capacity to withstand the rough usagethey were destined to endure; and they bore unmistakable evidences ofhaving, at various periods of their existence, taken part in some severeand desperate conflicts. On the mantelpiece stood some stonewarerepresentations of maids and swains, who combined a pastoral occupationwith the gratification of a musical talent; while they gazed with alanguishing air on their protrusive neighbour, a portly individual witha highly-coloured, rubicund, and grinning physiognomy, and scalplesscranium, from which he invited the lovers of the narcotic weed toextract a supply of that universal solace. These were supported, on thebackground, by a mirror of ordinary size; which presented unmistakablesigns of the household's reluctance to disturb the sacred dust of ages. Its sides and corners had a very dingy appearance, like an opaquecoating, which left a circle in the centre of dim translucency; and fromthis circumstance, a visitor might have assumed that some individual, wishing to gratify his vanity by seeing a reflection of his own visage, had applied his sleeve, at the same time that he exercised his arm in arotary motion, to remove the impediments to such vision. The lining ofboards to the room had been covered, in the general ornature, with agorgeous coloured paper; but no precaution had been taken to provide forthe wood's shrinking, and the consequence was that the paper had splitwith the timber's contraction, and left a gap between each board itcovered. Around the walls were distributed some antique prints, such asQueen Victoria in her gracious teens, considerably discoloured by theapplication of water, in a manner in no way advantageous to hercomplexion; a coloured print of the Derby in "the good old times, " andthe representation of a naval conflict executed in a bold and imposingstyle, with a studied disregard to perspective. The floor was coveredwith a dingy half worn oil-cloth; while half a dozen men were sittingat the table smoking, drinking, and maintaining an animated andboisterous dialogue upon the relative merits of their horses. Such thenwas the place and company in which our young friends found themselves, and were hardly noticed as they rang the bell to attract the attentionof some one in the house. Their summons was, after a time, answered by abare-armed, bearded, and greasy-looking biped of the genus homo, honoured by the confidence of the landlord, deigning to fill the post ofwaiter, and, from a deformity of his person, rejoicing in the soubriquetof "Hopping Dick. "

To a request, to be shown a room which they might appropriate for thenight, the brothers were ushered into a crib leading out of thecoffee-room, and measuring about eight feet square; while on each sideof it was stationed a bed of similar dimensions to a coffin, withappurtenances of relative magnitude. After depositing their valises andordering a meal, they strolled out to the stables to see that Joey hadwell looked after their horses; and, upon their recal by the limpingGanymede, turned into the house to partake of their repast. During theirshort absence, the company had increased by the entrance of a few of thetowns-people, who had joined the circle, and added fresh impetus to theargument (if their disjointed disputation could be called such), andstimulated an increased devotion at the shrine of Bacchus. Amid thisearthly pandemonium, John Ferguson and his brother sat down to discusstheir meal. 

The "fast" style of life, so common among the early settlers in thebush, but now happily dying out, rarely found favour in the eyes of thenative youths of the colony; and the Fergusons, having been brought upto entertain an abhorence of such scenes, naturally felt a repugnance tothe society into which they now found themselves thrown. Curiosity tosee the termination of their companion's orgies, however, detained themin the room; and for the consummation of their desire, they were notdestined to wait long. 

The party consisted principally of individuals called "supers, " or moreproperly speaking, the superintendents of stations, the owners of whichwere not resident on their properties; and in the management of which, excepting the disposal of stock, they had entire control: a few settlersof considerable means, whose stations, being situated in the remotebush, afforded them very rare opportunities of visiting town, but, whensuch an occasion presented itself, it was the means of supplying anindulgence, such as the present, of the wildest and most reckless courseof dissipation that could be devised: one or two settlers of minorimportance, and dignified with the title of "stringy bark" or "cockatoo"squatters: and, as we have already said, one or two of the towns-people, who would run into any excess, and expose themselves to any expense andignominy, to court the patronage, conversation, and companionship ofthe squatter, who in his sobriety would not condescend even to recognisehim, made up the group. 

At one end of the table, sat a squatter of collosal size, whose featureswere hardly discernible from the hair that almost covered his face. Hewas dressed in the usual bush costume: that is, a low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, made of the platted fibre of the cabbage tree, andcalled after the plant from which it is named, "a cabbage tree hat;" aloose woollen frock, barely covering his hips, made so as, in putting onand taking off, to require slipping over the head, and as a garment ofconstant use, is elegantly designated "a jumper;" and heavy knee ridingboots with spurs. The name in which he seemed to be recognised, from itsfrequent mention by the company, was Smith. Adding to his uncouthappearance and wild gesticulation, he had a voice decidedly unmusical;while his conversation was copiously interlarded with expletives, anathematizing some portion of his anatomy. This was the presidingspirit of the conclave. 

The excitement by this time ran high; great had been the exploitsdetailed by the company of their various steeds, and the dangers throughwhich they had carried their several owners; while the prodigies ofspeed, power, patience, and endurance, enumerated of the wonderfulanimals, would have made even Bucephalus hang his head at the idea ofhis own ordinary capacity. How long this state of braggadocio would havelasted, it is impossible to say; probably until a vinous philanthropysubdued the mental faculties of the company, and acted as an opiate ontheir senses, by composing them to sleep under the canopy (not ofheaven), but of the table. But the mere relation of deeds was speedilybrought to a stand, by the challenge of Smith to bet "a shout" to theparty all round, or accept the same himself from any one there, that hewould ride his own horse into the room, and leap him over the tablewithout touching or displacing anything on it. No one of the boastedequestrians offered to perform the feat; though the bet was readilyaccepted involving Smith's performance of the exploit; but before weproceed to detail the attempt, we may be permitted to enlighten ourreaders upon the nature of the bet. "A shout, " in the parlance of theAustralian bush, is an authority or request to the party in waiting in apublic-house to supply the bibulous wants of the companions of theshouter, who of course bears the expense; and when a shout is profferedas an earnest of sociality, or as an obligation in a bet, it indicatesthe disposition, in the one case, to increase as much as possible thecost of the shout, while it involves the necessity, in the other, toprovide whatever is required by the recipients. 

Smith speedily appeared with his horse saddled and ready for the leap;and to give him a better opportunity of performing his task, his friendshad removed the table to a transverse position, and stationedthemselves along the sides of the room, to witness the performance:carrying on their conversation in as animated a spirit as ever; whilevarying their opinions of his chances of success with bets on the event, and arrangements for fresh trials of a similar kind. 

The landlord, who from the increased din and uproar, imagined somethingwas astir, made enquiries of his oleaginous-looking colleague, by whomhe was apprised of the proceedings; but being accustomed to scenes ofequal recklessness, and being, moreover, a discreet man, andanticipating, in the event of any breakages, a means of reaping aplentiful harvest, he was conveniently deaf, and found occasion for hispresence at a spot far removed from the scene of action. From hisretreat, however, he was speedily summoned by Hopping Dick, to witnessthe result of the manoeuvre. 

It would be difficult to describe the scene that presented itself to thelandlord's vision, upon his entering the coffee-room; where, from theboisterous laughing of some of the party, the interjective swearing ofothers, the Babel of voices advising and expostulating, and the crowdingin of the towns-people, who had been attracted to the house by a rumourof what was going on, --he could hardly discern the nature of theaccident, the extent of the injury sustained, or, what concerned himmost, the damage done to his furniture and premises. Upon clearing theroom of strangers, and removing, as far as possible, the signs of wreck, he retired, leaving his lodgers to their meditations; while he indulgedin calculations bearing a direct application on the late amphitheatrepractice. He was, as we have already said, a prudent man in matters ofmonetary interest, and he wished not to question the acts of gentlemenresiding in his house, and therefore desired no explanation; but, forthe reader's enlightenment, we will briefly detail the circumstancesthat occasioned this untoward event. 

Smith brought his horse, which was a noble high-bred animal, into theroom; and when the door was closed, he mounted for the leap. Intoxicatedas he was, it was evident from his deportment he was a good rider; andsitting well and firmly in his saddle, was certainly a picture foradmiration; though, to a thoughtful mind, the feeling would give rise toa regret, that some more dignified object had not called forth theenergies of the man, than that which made a ridiculous exhibition ofhimself, degraded his noble steed, and risked his own neck. However, nosuch remorse entered the breast of the redoubtable horseman; and with aglance of conscious success directed round the room at his anticipatingcompanions, he dashed spurs into the sides of his steed. The animal thusurged, apparently terrified with the uproar that assailed his ears, andhardly knowing, in the singularity of the situation, what was requiredof him, exhibited symptoms of terror and uneasiness. His rider, however, was not to be deterred from his purpose, and bringing him up to the edgeof the table, again administered the spurs at the same time that heraised him to the leap; while the horse, frightened by the excitedthrong around him, and having his metal thoroughly aroused, made onebound, more than adequate to take him clear of the table. The rider notanticipating so lofty a spring, and incautiously omitting to take dueprecaution in the suddenness of his exaltation, allowed his head to comein violent contact with the ceiling; which stunning him, and causinghim, in his attempt to recover himself, to suddenly draw up his reins, had the effect of swerving his horse from his balance, and brought thepair down amidst the symbols of the late revel. While they lay stretchedon the floor, surrounded by the ruins of the table and the fragments ofglass, both bleeding and bruised, the landlord made his appearance; andafter removing the astonished quadruped to more congenial quarters, thefrolicsome and sportive inebriates separated for the night. 

The thoughts of the young men, as they retired to rest, after havingbeen the silent spectators of the late scene, may well be imagined; suchto them was entirely new, and the disgust which it gave rise to in themind of John was fully equalled by the contempt engendered in that ofWilliam; though, it must be confessed, when the contemplation of theevent passed through the latter's brain, he could not refrain fromindulging in a laugh at the ridiculous appearance of the actors, andfrom feeling amused at the humiliating termination of the vain gasconadeof the pompous and conceited principal, who became a self-immolatedvictim to his own vanity. The only object that excited one spark ofWilliam's pity or sympathy, was the poor deluded horse. With thesereflections, and an occasional outbreak of reminiscent cachinnations onthe part of the junior, the brothers dropt off to sleep, tired with theday's journey and the events of the night. 

CHAPTER III. 

 "The fiend's alarm began; a hollow sound Sung in the leaves; the forest rock'd around, Air blackened, --rolled the thunder, --groan'd the ground. "

 DRYDEN. 

Early on the following morning, John and William prepared to resumetheir journey; and, upon a settlement of their reckoning with theirhost, they were not a little surprised and annoyed to find aconsiderable item in their bill set down for the damage caused by theprevious night's debauch. This exaction they resisted, but to nopurpose. The landlord was no respecter of persons, and was inexorable inhis demands; they were present during the scene, and consequently, inhis eyes, implicated and liable to pay for their pleasure. Besideswhich, he intended to reap a rich harvest from the event, and charge thesame to each party staying in his house; notwithstanding that the sumapportioned to each individual was ample to indemnify him for any losshe had sustained. Not being in the habit, however, of having his demandscalled into question, he was not in this case inclined to relinquish hisintention of enforcing the payment; and the brothers were thereforeconstrained to submit to the extortion. 

The shortest though more intricate route to Brompton, the station of Mr. Smithers, was through the bush, following a line described to them by anold shepherd of their father's who well knew that part of the country;and, being experienced bushmen themselves, they determined upon takingthat course in preference to the more circuitous, though better defined, dray road and townships. With this intention, provided with adescriptive sketch of the country, a pocket compass, and the sagacityand instinct of their black boy, they started for Barra Warra, a stationdistant about fifty miles; which was centrally situated, and from whencethere was a postman's track to Brompton. To reach this point beforedark, it was necessary to push on; as, should they not complete theirdistance in daylight, it would necessitate the alternative of spending anight in the bush; a circumstance, which, though not likely to cause anyuneasiness to a bushman, was, in the possibility of obtainingcomfortable quarters, as well to be avoided. 

Nothing of any note occurred in the ride, until well on in theafternoon; when they began to detect signs of their approach to anextensive station, and expected shortly to witness symptoms of animationand habitation. The weather during the greater part of the day had beenexceedingly sultry; which, with the heavy appearance of the sky, was aportentous indication of storm. In order to escape this, and reach theshelter of the station before the rending of the heavens, the young menurged their weary horses to an accelerated speed. They rode on; stillwithout coming upon any track that would guide them to the station theyknew could not be far distant; when an occasional low rumbling noise ofdistant thunder announced the approach of the warring elements; and withthe gradual extinction of the sun's rays, made them feel theunpleasantness of their situation, and a desire to be well housed. Theinstinct of the black here made its value apparent; for, where nothingwas visible even to the practised eye of either John or William, hesuddenly discerned the tracks of sheep; and naturally inferring thatthey must either be directed towards, or from, the head station; andalso detecting the track of the shepherd, who must have accompanied theflock, easily deciding which must have been the homeward course, he tookthe lead of the party, and piloted them with his eyes fixed upon theground; travelling as speedily as their horses could proceed. 

Very little distance, however, had been accomplished; and the increasinggloom lent its darkness to the shades of night already setting in; whena few heavy drops of moisture, accompanied by a flash of vivid light, that made the horses start and tremble; and followed by a peal ofthunder that seemed to shake the very earth; announced to the travellersthat they were in for an unpleasant experience, in all probability, of amiserable night. The trio, however, still held on their way; the blackboy, during the momentary illuminations caused by the repeated flashesof lightning, continued to discern the, but to him, evanescent path; andwith spasmodic starts; and intervals of salient progression, proceededin his guiding course. 

The appearance of the forest was fearfully sublime; the tall bare trunksof the gigantic gum-trees, with their surfaces of immaculately smoothbark of a pale bluish hue, appearing as if they had by someunaccountable agency been stripped of their natural skin, contrastedstrangely with the surrounding gloom. When the momentary flashes oflight lit up the darkness of the woods, and revealed the naked stems, like argenteous columns supporting the black canopy of eternal shades, they displayed a scene calculated to create in an imaginative fancy theexistence of a vast catacomb of departed dryads; while it inspired themind with awe, at the presence of the dread power that moves the spiritof the storm. Still, down came the rain; flash followed upon flash; andthe thunder rolled as if the whole heavens were rent by the mightyconvulsions of the elements. The storm by this time had reached theculminating point; and the volume of water, pouring upon the earth, gaveto the ground the appearance of one vast swamp; while it obliterated, even to the acute vision of the black, all signs of the track that hadbeen leading them to their night's destination. Nothing now seemed tooffer them any chance of an alleviation of their discomfort; no soundcould be caught by the quick ear of Joey, that would tend to lead themto the desired refuge; no abatement of the storm appeared probable; andin the perfect obscurity of the night, any removal from their presentposition would only involve them, in all probability, more in the bush, and render their extrication more tedious and difficult. To add to theirmisery, they were cold and drenched, had no possibility of lighting afire, or indulging in that balm for every misfortune, a pipe; and withtheir horses almost knocked up, they saw no alternative but to take whatlittle protection a tree afforded, and wait for the morning. 

Their position had attained this climax of wretchedness, when it struckJohn Ferguson that Joey might be able to hear or see something from thetop of one the trees, that would lead them to shelter; he thereforerequested the black, as a forlorn hope, to try it. Joey, upon receivinghis command, selected a piece of wild vine sufficiently long to give hima firm hold in each hand, while it compassed the trunk of a good-sizedtree; then divesting himself of his boots, and choosing one of thelargest stems he could distinguish, he prepared to mount an old bluegum, whose trunk rose for fully forty feet smooth and straight, andwithout an impediment or excrescence. Putting his supple vine-stalkround the tree, and firmly grasping each end of the cane by his hands, he placed his feet firmly against the stalwart denizen of the woods, androse in bounding starts with a celerity astonishing to the uninitiated. Upon reaching the fork of the tree, and ascending the highest branch, hespent some moments gazing around, in the hope of detecting a friendlylight in the surrounding gloom, but without success; not a gleam wasvisible, and not a sound, save the rumbling of the thunder and the heavypattering of the rain, broke the solemn monotony of the storm. Disappointed and nearly disheartened, he communicated to his masterbelow the ungrateful intelligence that nothing was perceptible; butpreparatory to his descent, he gave a loud "cooey, " in the faint hopethat it might attract the attention of some human being. As we proceed, we may as well describe to the reader the nature of this signal. A"cooey" is, as its name implies, a call having the sound its orthographyindicates; with a prolonged dwelling upon the first syllable, and asharp determined utterance in its termination. This sound, which ispeculiar to the Australian bush, uttered with the intonation and forceof healthy lungs, can be heard at a surprising distance; and often, whenused by one lost in the nemoral labyrinths of the country, is the meansof attraction; and consequent deliverance from danger and probabledeath. 

It was, then, one of these efficient signals of distress that wasuttered by Joey, with a lustiness that would have done credit to LaBlache; and great was his joy when, after a few moments of listening, his ear caught the sound of a dog's barking. The canine infection spreadrapidly over the settlement, and once started kept up an unceasingchorus from the throats of a whole pack; and guided by the friendlynotice, our travellers were enabled to discern in which direction BarraWarra lay. They mounted their horses with stiff and weary limbs, thoughwith lightened hearts, and proceeded for about a hundred yards in thedirection whence echoed the barking; when, to their no littleastonishment, they came upon the line of fence enclosing the paddocksattached to the house, and immediately struck the track leading to thestation. By this they had the mortification to discover, that if theyhad been enabled to continue their course for a few minutes before thestorm thickened, they would have, long ere then, been comfortablysheltered from the inclemency of the weather. However, they were not ina disposition to indulge in any vain regrets; and shortly arriving atthe house, they presented themselves in their sad plight. The noise ofthe dogs had attracted the attention of the people of the place, who, imagining the cause, were expecting to see the approach of sometraveller; so, when John and William made their appearance, they weremet at the door by the owner of the station. 

This gentleman upon witnessing the condition of the young men, andinstantly perceiving them to be of his own order, extended his hand toeach; and expressing his regret at their misfortune, invited them intothe house, and provided them with dry changes. A warm repast was quicklyready for them; and during its discussion they related their parentage, destination, and object of their journey, to their new friend, Mr. Dawson; who proved himself a most agreeable person. He informed themthat he had heard of their father, and was delighted to make theacquaintance of his sons; he proffered the hospitality of his house foras long as they wished to stay; and pressed them to prolong their visit. This, however, would involve a breach of their engagement with Smithers;and, pleased as they were with the civility and kindness displayed inthe invitation, they regretted they could not, on that occasion, acceptit, and informed their entertainer that their object was to reachBrompton on the following day; which would necessitate a resumption oftheir journey early on the morrow. 

Mr. Dawson expressed sorrow that he could not induce them to remain; buttrusted they would make his house their temporary home on some moreconvenient occasion; and informing them that he had then got a fewfriends stopping with him on a short visit, and who were then assembledin the drawing-room, he led the Fergusons off to introduce them. 

The young men naturally thought the company, to whom they were about tobe ushered, consisted of some of the neighbouring squatters, who hadvolunteered their company for a few days to dispel their mutualmonotony. But great was their surprise, when, upon entering a verycomfortably (almost elegantly) furnished room, to see assembled severalladies, dispersed about the apartment; some in conversation withgentlemen; others at work, amusing or instructing the children; whileone sat at a handsome cottage piano, running through some new music, brought to the station by one of her friends; and accompanying herselfon the instrument, while singing in a sweet and melodious voice a newand popular song. To her, whom he addressed as his wife, the hostintroduced our travellers; detailing in a few words, the informationrespecting their movements, which they had themselves imparted to him;and then in turn went through the usual formality with the remainder ofhis guests. 

In society such as this, where restraint is unknown, and cordiality andhospitality reign supreme, it is not to be wondered at that our friendsspeedily found themselves at home; nor that their own prospects werecanvassed by their new friends, with a zeal and freedom that would beconsidered unpardonable impertinence in the more settled and formalcircles of the "old country. " From the information obtained from themore experienced settlers, the Fergusons derived considerable benefit;and their friends' directions and opinions of the country, being, in theestimation of the young men, likely to be valuable, they determined toallow themselves, in a great measure, to be guided by them. 

The evening, enlivened by an occasional dance, music, and livelyconversation, was passed exceedingly pleasantly by the brothers; whowere perfectly delighted with their kind reception; and sadly regrettedtheir inability to comply with their kind host's repeated entreaties toextend their visit. Mr. Dawson informed them that those pleasingreunions, had become quite numerous in that part of the country; wherethe degree of familiar and friendly intercourse established among theneighbouring families was such, that, after the bustle and occupation ofshearing time was over, such a party, as he then had in his house, wasformed alternately at each of the surrounding stations; and theirleisure existence became a prolonged life of reciprocal good-feelingand friendship; which, by the means of this happy unity, were firmlycemented. 

On the following morning, the sun rose with a refreshed resplendence;and our young friends, after breakfasting, and taking a cordial leave oftheir kind entertainers and their friends, proceeded on their way toBrompton. The previous evening's storm had had the effect of deliciouslycooling the atmosphere; and the sun's clear rays obliquely striking thefragrant gum-leaves, which fluttered high over-head in the gentlemorning breeze, and still bathed, as it were, in tears for the lateelemental strife, made them sparkle like glittering gems in the roof oftheir arboreous edifice. The aromatic exudation from the dwarfishwattle, with its May-like blossom, which seemed to flourish under theprotection of its gigantic compeers; and the bright acacia, decking, with its brilliant hue, the sloping sward, both lent their aid in thegeneral pageant. The shrill cry of the parrots, which, with their richplumage flashing in the reflection of the sun, and almost dazzling theeye of the beholder, as they darted in their continued flight from treeto tree, in the exuberance of their conscious freedom and enjoyment ofresuscitated nature, screeched their notes of thankfulness andadmiration. The running streamlet, called into almost momentaryexistence, bounded and leapt its limpid volume through its tortuous andmeandering course, insinuated its translucent body into masses offibrous _debris_ and crevices of rock, to emerge in miniature cataracts, and murmur its allegiance to an all-smiling nature. The brightened faceof morn greeted the young men upon their start; and with their spiritsbuoyant and animated by the refreshing influence of the delightfultemperature, the surrounding fragrance, and the cheerful andexhilarating aspect of the bush, they rode with light and happy hearts. 

Their course, however, was tedious and troublesome, and at the same timedangerous; for the fury of the storm, which now showed what had beenthe extent of its force, in the destruction it had occasioned, hadplaced numerous traps on the road. Immense trees lay prostrate acrosstheir track, frequently necessitating a deviation from the path. Here apatriarch of the forest was riven to the root; with its splintersscattered in all directions; while one portion, still adhering in itsconnexion to the base, and supported by a branch resting on the ground, formed a triumphal arch across the road. There a similar denizen of thewoods extended his humiliated form; torn up by the root, which had drawnwith it masses of its congenial soil, seemingly unwilling to part withits natural element from which it had derived its sustenance. This wouldcause another deviation; and the treacherous nature of the ground (whichwas what bushmen call rotten, that is, superficially looking perfectlysound, though actually so soft that a horse would sink into it to hisknees) rendered travelling insecure, and required the exercise ofextreme caution. Hence the day was considerably advanced ere thetravellers arrived at Brompton. 

As they approached this station, they were very much struck with itsappearance. It was situated on a rising ground facing the Gibson river;which, with the heavy rains that had fallen, had risen considerablyabove its usual height, and had the appearance of a noble stream. Thehouse itself was of the kind generally to be met with under similarcircumstances; that is, a one-storied weather-boarded building of aboutsix or eight rooms, mostly connected with one another, with a broadshady verandah, detached kitchen and stable, and other out-houses at ashort distance removed from the dwelling. As a structure it had nothingabout it that would attract special attention; it was simply neat, andhad an appearance of comfort; but looked at in conjunction with theprettily arranged garden, with its tastefully laid out flower plots, andwell stocked beds of vegetive edibles--and which was protected from theintrusion of quadrupeds by a substantial "pailing fence"--it was a snugand pleasant residence. Numerous and extensive enclosed paddocksstretched far down the banks of the river; and in them might have beenseen quite a herd of horses luxuriating in the rich pasturage; while ata distance of a few hundred yards stood the enclosures forming thestock-yard, and, adjacent, the large wool-shed and the huts of the men. From these, smoke with graceful curls rose in the calm evening air, andgave to the _locale_ the appearance of a small though picturesquetownship; and, with the park-like appearance of the country, impressedour young travellers with the feeling, that Brompton was one of the mostserene and delightful spots they had ever seen. 

This station was of considerable magnitude; and, being in the centre ofa district becoming fast occupied by settlers and their stock, it waslikely, at no very distant period, to become a place of considerableimportance. The government had reserved a site for a township; and hadalready established a branch post-office for the convenience of thesettlers in the neighbourhood; it might consequently be considered the_ultima thule_ of civilisation. The proprietor of the station, Mr. Alfred Smithers, was a gentleman in the meridian of life, who had, inthe general exodus from the southern districts of the colony, come overinto the Darling Downs in search of "new country;" and continuing topush on until he passed the boundary of the existing settlements, hadalighted on a tract of land situated near the head of the Gibson river, to which it appeared no venturesome squatter had as then penetrated. Hetook up the "run" from government, gave it its present name, broughtover his flocks, and established his station; then building acomfortable little cottage, which, since the erection of the presenthouse, had been occupied by the overseer, he removed to it Mrs. Smithersand his family. His brother shortly afterwards followed him into thisunknown wilderness, and not being possessed of any stock himself, assisted him in the general management of the station. 

The younger brother, Mr. Robert Smithers, more generally known among hisfriends as Bob Smithers, and of whom we shall have to make frequentmention in the course of our narrative, was a gentleman of ratherprepossessing appearance; the junior of his brother by some ten years;but, unlike him, was of an unsettled and reckless disposition, ratherfond of the society of wild and dissolute companions, and at times, whenabsent from home, exhibited symptoms of the old colonial leaven, andindulged in courses of dissipation and debauchery. On the station, however, he was energetic and industrious; and, at its early settlement, was of considerable service to his brother, not only in the generalroutine of the establishment, but from his implacable enmity to theblacks, whom he inspired with a wholesome dread of his prowess; sothat, while their neighbours were continually suffering from thedepredations of the sable marauders, their flocks and property were leftintact. 

Shortly after Bob's juncture with his brother, and perceiving the numberof settlers that continually migrated to this new district, heprovisioned himself and a few domesticated blacks (that occasionallyworked on the station, and on whom he could depend) with rations for twoor three months; and being well armed for his own protection, in case ofa collision with any of his colleagues' countrymen, or of theirtreachery, he took his departure on a prospecting tour. Following thecourse of the river, and exploring the creeks and tributaries augmentingit, he drew a rough sketch or plan of the surface of the country, notingthe different hills, creeks, and landmarks, to which he gave names; andmarking the trees at various spots, to indicate to any future searcherthat the country had been selected. He then divided his plan intodivisions, which he roughly estimated to contain each about twenty orthirty thousand acres; and dignifying them with names, he sent intogovernment, tenders for their lease. At the time of which we speak, inthe survey department of the legislature, very little was known of thecountry designated "the unsettled districts, " but which were fastfilling up; and as little enquiries were made by the authorities, as tothe accuracy of the sketches and estimations in the tenders, in theabsence of any others, they were necessarily accepted at the minimumrate of ten guineas per annum each. Thus Mr. Robert Smithers became, fora small annual rental, the lessee of a tract of country equal in extentto an European principality. Although, without the present means ofstocking the land thus obtained, Bob Smithers knew perfectly well thatas the country became taken up and occupied, and as fresh settlerspoured in, he would find many who would purchase his right to the "runs"at pretty round sums, in preference to pushing out still further;besides, having no absolute necessity to sell them, he could continue tohold out, until their value sufficiently advanced to induce him toeffect a sale. A prospect of a profitable realization having nowpresented itself, he had been offering them; and it was for one of theseruns that the Fergusons were in treaty. 

Their approach to the station had been noticed from the house; and upontheir arrival at the door, they were welcomed by Mr. Alfred Smithers, who at once concluded who they were; so consigning their horses to thecare of a man in waiting and their own black boy Joey, they entered thedomicile, and were introduced to Mrs. Smithers and the family. In theabsence of his brother, who was shortly expected in, John fell intoconversation with Mr. Smithers, respecting the country they were aboutto visit, and their proposed operations, should they decide uponpurchasing; while William, with his usual frankness, subsided into afriendly conversation with the lady, while he playfully noticed thechildren, with whom he instantly became a great favourite. 

The internal arrangements of the house seemed in perfect keeping withits external appearance of comfort: order, decorum, and cleanliness, seemed its characteristics; and happiness and contentment that of theinmates' existence. Mr. Smithers was evidently a man of domesticattachments; one whose greatest pleasure was in his family; while hiswife was blessed with an equally happy temperament, devoted to herhusband, with whom and her children she divided her entire affection. Their family consisted of three, two boys and a girl; who, notwithstanding the disadvantages under which they laboured, wereexeeedingly obedient and well mannered, without any of the waywardforwardness, and rude precosity, so generally to be met with in childrenbrought up under similar auspices. Though hospitable and kind in theextreme, from their remote and secluded position, the Smitherses wererarely visited by strangers; and even their few neighbours were eitherlocated at such considerable distances that it made visitinginconvenient, or they were people of a stamp who had no relish for theirsociety. Mr. Smithers never visited town, except when business made itabsolutely necessary, and his amiable wife never entertained any desireto leave her family; consequently it was not to be wondered at, from thetime of her arrival at the station, five years before the period ofwhich we speak, she had never left it longer than for a day's ride, toreturn the courtesies of some of her nearest friends. 

Bob Smithers, as we have already said, was inclined occasionally toexceed the bounds of temperance and decorum; but even he sincerelyrespected his sister-in-law, and never ventured to violate propriety bythe introduction of such companions as he knew would be distasteful toher. At the same time, the influence of her presence acted as a checkupon his wild and uncouth habits, and prevented him from giving way soentirely to his reckless propensities as he would have done under nosuch restraint. 

The Fergusons were well pleased with the portion of the Smithers'_menage_ they had met; and during the interval that they were waitingfor the return of Bob, who had, so his brother informed them, beendetained somewhere on the run, probably through the swollen nature ofthe creeks, they enjoyed one of the most pleasant evenings they hadspent for a long time. The absentee made his appearance late in theevening, and after a mutual introduction, informed his visitors that hehad hardly expected them for a day or two. The rain in the neighbourhoodof Brompton, they discovered, had been falling for some days, and hadbeen considerably heavier than on the higher parts of the river; while, owing to the large body of water that had fallen, Bob stated that allthe rivers were too much swollen to admit of their being crossed, andadvised, for their mutual comfort, that their expedition should bedelayed for a few days to give the water time to subside. This advicewas backed up by the rest of the family, who were unanimous inexpressing the delight they would feel in their friends extending theterm of their visit; while they, having no objections themselves to sucha course, gladly responded to the appeal, and considered themselvesstationary until the river would admit of their proceeding on theirexpedition. With this arrangement settled, they finally separated forthe night. 

CHAPTER IV. 

 "Ye vig'rous swains! while youth ferment your blood, And purer spirits swell the sprightly flood, Now range the hills. "

 POPE. 

On the third day after the Fergusons' arrival, Bob Smithers, believingthe river had sufficiently subsided to admit of their travelling, organized their party preparatory to their departure; and selected fromhis own men one of the most useful and experienced bushmen to accompanythem, and in conjunction with Joey, to take charge of the pack-horses, follow them over the runs, and guard their camp. They started; and, forthe first day, followed the course of the Gibson river, which for nearlythirty miles bounded the Brompton run. At this point its waters werejoined by a tributary creek, and here was situated one of theout-stations. It was the intention of Bob Smithers to reach this placebefore dark; and, owing to the heavy nature of the ground, from itsexcessive saturation, it was with no little difficulty this portion ofthe journey was performed. However, they reached the shepherd's hut; andunburdening their horses, they hobbled them and turned them out tograze, while they camped themselves for the night. 

The hut, where they made their halt, was on a par with others of thesame pretensions, though in no way superior. It was built of slabs splitfrom the log, and freely ventilated on all sides; though in the roof, which was covered with bark, it was perfectly impervious to the weather. The internal arrangements, as might be expected, were as rough as thebuilding itself; against the wall, in each side of the hut, were roughlyput up, with battens and saplings, two clumsy-looking receptacles, containing the blankets, and intended for the nocturnal tenancy of thetwo occupants of the habitation. A box belonging to one of the men, anda rough bench built against the other unoccupied wall, and serving for atable, an iron pot for boiling meat, two tin quart pots in which to maketheir tea, two pint ones and dishes of the same metal, a two-gallon kegcontaining water, and which in an inverted position at times had to doduty as a stool, and two suspended bags containing tea and sugar, completed the furniture of the place. In front of the door a large loghad been rolled, and was burning with lively force, emitting a luridglare on the surrounding group; while on its end untouched by the fire, sat the hut-keeper, with his companion standing near him, and theirvisitors stretched on the ground awaiting the completion of the culinaryoperations of Bob Smithers' man. 

The position of these guardians of the fleece is usually monotonous anddreary in the extreme; and those located here were a fair sample of thegeneral herd. There was a shepherd and a hut-keeper. The duty of theformer was to lead out the flocks daily at dawn, to follow and tend themwhile depasturing, and protect them from the depredations of the blacks, or the molestations of the native dogs; for which purpose in very remotedistricts, such as this, they are provided with guns. The hut-keeper, onthe other hand, remains all day at the hut, resting from his vigils andpreparing the meals of himself and coadjutor, in readiness for thelatter's return at dusk with his charge; which are forthwith penned andhanded over to the safe keeping of the other, who watches them duringthe night. 

These men remain in this happy state of seclusion and ignorance of theproceedings of the world, from which they are thus (by their voluntaryact of expatriation) excluded, from year's end to year's end; except atshearing time, when they bring their flocks to the head station to beshorn; and the only being with whom they have any intercourse, is theman who brings them their weekly supply of rations. When "old hands, "they in general pass their lives in a lethargic existence; having noapparent thought of past, present, or future; but breathe on in a dreamyobliviousness, until at the expiration of perhaps one or two years, their wages having accumulated to an amount somewhat considerable, theyleave their employment to proceed to the nearest public-house and plungeinto a course of drinking. After the endurance of a week's delirium, madness, and unconsciousness, they generally find themselves, whenrobbed of the greater portion of their hard-got earnings, thrust uponthe world penniless, wretched, dispirited, and sick, to seek employmentand re-enact the same scenes of solitary penance and wild debauchery. 

It is true the denizens of these out-stations are not always suchcharacters; occasionally "fresh arrivals, " or as they are called "newchums, " may be hired by the squatter's agents in town and sent up tothe station, whence they are frequently removed to these outposts; butwhen such is the case, they are generally of a more sociabledisposition, and take an early opportunity of being removed to thecomfort and social intercourse of the head station. Though in thisremoval they entail more constant and arduous occupation, they willinglyembrace the labour, and leave the indolence of their vacated posts, tobe enjoyed by some "old hand" whose mind has been broken by thedepressing influence of constant punishment, and whose hopes have beenblighted by a constant penal servitude. As this class of men is happilydisappearing from the country, and giving place to steady andpersevering immigrants, the charge of an out-station, when not in thehands of one with the old leaven of improvidence unexterminated, necessarily becomes the probationary lot of a "new chum. "

The two men, with whom our travellers found themselves located, weresomething of the first mentioned class; and, to give our readers someidea of their characters, we will venture to encroach upon theirpatience, by recounting an epitome of the conversation that was startedafter the evening repast. 

"Have you been long in this part of the country?" asked John of theshepherd. 

"Why no, sir, I ain't been so very long, " replied the man; "I've gotabout three months to make up my year with Mr. Smithers. I came overfrom New England, and agreed for twelve months, and I like this countryfar better than the south, it ain't so cold nor so wet. "

"Then, I suppose, you will retain your place, and renew your engagementwhen your year is up?"

"Well, you see, sir, I don't exactly know about that 'ere; after beingup in the bush a while one likes to get down the country a bit, just tosee what's going on, and to spend one's money. "

"But, my good man, what necessity is there for you to go away from thestation? If you want to see any change, I've no doubt Mr. Smithers wouldfind you employment at the head station; and you might allow your wagesto accumulate, until you had sufficient to purchase some sheep of yourown. "

"I don't know about that, sir; I expect it would be a precious long timebefore I would have enough to buy a flock of sheep: and besides, if Ihad any, I wouldn't know what to do with them; I shouldn't be allowed tograze 'em on other folk's runs; and, after slaving away for I don't knowhow long, I reckon I should just be swindled out of 'em in the end, andbe as poor and 'miserable as a bandicoot' after all: besides, I'd rathernot have the bother with them, but just have my spree, and 'knock downmy pile, ' as usual. "

"But, my good fellow, if you were possessed of a flock of sheep, youcould, by paying a rent, be allowed to depasture it on some squatter'srun; and as to being swindled out of your property, the law of the landwould protect you from that. "

"I don't know nothing about the law of the land, sir; but I know as howa mate of mine, who served with a master on the Barwan for five years, and was paid his wages in sheep, took his flock to a piece of country hehad bought from his master and set his self up. He hadn't been at thatgame though for more nor two years, when a flood on the river took offhalf his sheep, and his old master brought him in a bill for somehundreds of pounds for stores and things my mate had got, and he wantedto be paid right off. Now, my mate couldn't pay him; so he had to givehim up his sheep and go shepherding again. So you see, sir, I may justas well spend my money when I get it, as let myself be cheated out of itat the end. "

"Your friend's case was certainly a hard one, but he seemed to be thevictim of misfortune more than of an exacting master; but that does notshow, because he did not succeed, that you or any other industrious manshould fail. Take my advice and try it; refrain from taking your wages, let them accumulate in the hands of your employer, and when they havereached such a sum as to be of service to you, ask him to invest it, andI am sure you will have no cause to complain; besides, remember as youget old, if you have no friends to care for you and you are destitute asyou are now, you will starve. "

"That's just it, you see, sir; if I go to save money now (but I know Ican't, for I never could), if I dies I've got no one to give it to. I'vegot no friends, leastwise I don't know of none; and I am sure when Iknew there was something coming to me, I would want to spend it; whileas long as I live, I can always earn enough to keep me. "

"But you say you've never attempted to save your wages; you cannot tellhow you may be influenced until you make the attempt. "

"There is no use of my trying, sir, I am sure I never could; and I mayjust take my money when it is due me, and have my spree. "

"I can't understand how it is you persist in being so prodigal. Whatextraordinary influence is it that induces you to spend your earnings assoon as you get them?"

"Well, I don't know, sir, unless it is we get 'em too seldom. You see, when we work for a year and don't get no money perhaps all that time, when we do have our wages all in a lump, it seems such a lot we don'tthink how hard it cost us to get it; and we don't know what to do withit, so we just spend it. If we got paid, you see, as people down in thetowns, at the end of the week, and had to keep ourselves, we might getinto the way for saving a little now and then; but as it is, we neverknow how to do it, and I expect we never shall. You see we ain't likethose fellows who let their old women look after their money, who tell'em it is all gone, while all the time they've got it put away in theirold stocking. "

"Well, why don't you get married, and have an old woman, as you call it;and by her means you may make yourself more happy, and be enabled, aftera time, to become your own master?"

"I've often thought I wouldn't mind that sort o' thing, sir; but wheredo you think I would get a young woman as'd look at the likes of me?When they comes out to this country, specially when they gets up hereinto the bush, they're so mighty saucy, they cocks up their noses atfellers likes us; and besides, you know masters don't care to have menwith what they calls 'incumberances. '"

"No doubt there is some truth in that; but if you by your thriftinesscan possess yourself of a little money, and be in a position toestablish yourself, you'd have no difficulty, I should say, in inducingsome industrious girl to accept you; take my advice now, and try. "

"All right, sir, I will, " replied the man; after which the conversationtook another turn, and the party very shortly separated. 

As they were leaving the fire, Bob Smithers remarked to John that allhis advice to the man would be lost in five minutes. He told him it wasimpossible to instil prudence into the minds of such; "their wholeenjoyment, " he said, "is in having their spree. They perceive nopleasure in hoarding money to provide comforts in their old age; thevery thought of it is distasteful to them, and as to that fellow(pointing to the man John had been conversing with), if he succeeded inpassing the year without drawing his wages, some of his mates would tellhim he was a fool; and thinking so himself, he would not rest until hehad been paid and gone through his course of drunkenness. "

"I am aware, " said John, "such is his present feeling; and I have metwith many like him, but have succeeded in persuading, not a few, topractise a life of frugality; and I am convinced, with a littleadmonition, that that man could be induced to adopt a similar course. "

"Well, perhaps, he could, " replied Smithers; "but, for my part, if thosefellows feel inclined to spend their money foolishly, I don't think itis our interest to prevent them. If we induced all the men in thecountry to save their wages, or take them in sheep, we would have thecolony overrun with a set of "stringy bark squatters, " who would be soinfesting our lands that our runs would be cut up into innumerable smallparts, just to serve vagabonds. "

"You must admit, " replied John, "that if a provident spirit were to beinfused into the people, it would be the means of stocking the countryby an industrious and thrifty population; and be far more beneficial tothe colony than allowing the lands to remain in the hands of a fewwealthy squatters. "

"Oh, pooh! pooh!" cried Smithers; "but I'm not going to argue with you;we had better start in the morning soon after daylight; so, now, let'stake a snooze. " With this the young men entered the hut, and, rollingthemselves in their blankets, settled for sleep; which they enjoyeduninterruptedly until an early hour in morning. They then arose; and, after taking a matin ablution in the creek, returned to the hut topartake of their breakfast, which was being prepared by Joey; while BobSmithers' stock-man brought in the horses. 

It may, no doubt, appear strange to the reader that horses should beturned out loose in the bush, with only the simple precaution of"hobbling" their fore-feet, without the danger of the animals being lostto their owners; but such is rarely to be apprehended, except in thecase of some incorrigible beasts who are not to be trusted. We certainlyhave known horses, so hobbled, make off in a sort of shambling gallop, by drawing up the two confined feet together, and progressing in shortleaps; but, in general, a horse so turned out at night, after a day'shard ride, has a sort of tacit understanding with his master that he isto be at hand when required: or at least his natural instinct promptshim to make the most use of his leisure time, and occupy the period ofhis release in diligently administering to his own wants, and satisfyingthe calls of hunger and exhausted nature; and if searched for atdaybreak, before having had time to wander, he is generally found in aconvenient proximity to "the camp. " Such was the case in the presentinstance. 

When the horses were saddled and ready for a start, the party mounted, and the cavalcade moved off. The country they intended to visit wassituated on the main river, some considerable distance further down itscourse; but, owing to the numerous creeks that mingled their waters withthe main stream, it was impossible for them to follow the bank of theriver without meeting with many interruptions and impediments. Theytherefore traced up the creek; and, by means of their compass, theyshaped their course so as to either head all the creeks, or so far reachtheir sources, as to be enabled to cross them without difficulty. Thiscircuitous route necessarily occupied more time than what would havebeen required under more auspicious circumstances; and the still heavynature of the ground, from its late pluvial visitation, rendered thejourney extremely tedious; while it prevented them from reachingStrawberry Hill, the only station on the river below Brompton, thatnight. This run had been sold to the present occupants by Bob Smithers, and had been taken possession of by them some eighteen monthspreviously. It had been Smithers' intention to have made this placetheir quarters for that night; but finding it could not be reachedbefore dark, and there being situated in the line a deep and awkwardriver called the Wombi, running into the Gibson, and for which hepreferred daylight to cross, he determined to keep higher up the Wombi, and camp on its bank where the country was open and flat. 

Arriving at the "Dingo plains, " a place so named from the number ofthose animals which frequented it, they halted for the night, intendingto camp and cross the river in the morning. They would thus, by makingthis detour, keep high above Strawberry Hill; and Smithers thereforepurposed taking his companions round the back and lower boundaries ofthe run they wished to see; thence through its extent to its otherextreme on the Gibson river; making occasional deviations to theprincipal water courses and eminences, from which a good view of thecountry could be obtained; and thence to return. Smoking their pipesover their fire, Bob detailed these plans to the young men, whoperfectly agreed with their judiciousness, and determined to put them inpractice on the following day. They then fell into a desultoryconversation; through which we will not trouble the reader by following;but merely remark that it was principally upon the occupants of thestation on the river, the character of the blacks in the neighbourhood, and the likelihood of annoyance from the dingos. That these latter werenumerous it was pretty evident; for the travellers more than once hadintimation, of a close proximity to their camp, of a tribe of thosecanine aborignals, who prefer the enjoyment of a pristine independenceto the blessings of civilisation, except in so far as that civilisationcan be made subservient to their comfort and sustenance. 

The dingo, or as it is generally called, the native dog, occupies in thesocial scale, much the same position in the southern hemisphere, as thefox does in the northern; and also approaches more nearly to that animalin semblance and character than any other known. Its colour is generallyof a dark sandy or reddish brown, with hair rather long, a bushylow-hanging tail, long ears, which except while being pursued he usuallykeeps erect, pointed snout, and sharp piercing eyes. He is stupid andcowardly; generally creeping along with a slinking gait to surprise hisprey, which he usually siezes by the throat. He is easily frightened, and deterred from his purpose by the simplest contrivances; and isquite devoid of that cunning which characterizes his antipodeanprototype. His course of destruction has been known to be arrested by anordinary four-wire fence, through which he could have easily passed;though he sat on the exterior of the enclosure, moaning piteously at theflock within; while his mental obtuseness failed to percieve a means ofingress. To sheep he is most destructive; and if a flock is socarelessly tended as to admit of his insinuating himself, the havoc hemakes is frightful: for not content with fastening on one, he will snap, tear, worry, and mangle possibly half the flock; and passing from one toanother, with the rapidity of thought, the mortality that results fromhis visit is truly disastrous. He never barks like a domesticated dog, but yelps and howls; and at night when he sounds his note, it is takenup by the entire pack, and made to resound with a mournful cadence overthe face of the country. As they sit on their haunches, with theirnoses extended in an elevation to the sky, chorusing their lachrymoseand supplicatory lamentations, the effect is one of the most dismal thatcan be conceived. 

To society such as this the young men had a decided objection; andconcluding, that if they did not take steps to disperse their nocturnalvisitors (who treated them to numerous appeals which were anything buteuphonic), they would stand a very poor chance of enjoying any rest. Besides the probability that a keen appetite might induce the dogs toextend their favours to the horses, it was also a matter of prudence toinsist upon their removing themselves to some more distant location; andto support this with a forcible argument, the travellers got their gunsin readiness, and moved away in silence into the darkness. 

Our friends were not left long to ascertain in what direction to expecta recontre, for a fresh eructation of the metrical whine gave themsufficient notice. The black boy soon descried the disturbers of theirpeace by the glitter of a host of canine optics, and directed hismasters and their friend where to fire. This they did; and the effect oftheir shots was instantly apparent, from the excessive yelping thatgreeted their ears, and satisfied them that some, at least, of theirannoyers had got something to remember; while they were gratified tolisten to the fast receding sounds of these "mercurial inhabitants ofthe plain. " The dogs quickly "made themselves scarce, " nor did theyafterwards attempt to reduce the distance they had placed betweenthemselves and the travellers; who, upon the establishment of quiet, andafter supplying fresh material to their fire, nestled themselves intheir blankets around the cheerful blaze, and stretched themselves tosleep under the "starlit canopy of heaven. "

Early on the next morning the journey was resumed; and for three days, with very little variety, they traversed the run, of which we need saynothing; except that the country answered the expectations of theFergusons, who were pleased with its appearance, and returned with BobSmithers to complete the purchase at Brompton. Here preliminaries weresoon effected. Mr. Ferguson's agents in Sydney had been instructed byhim to honour any drafts drawn by his son, and to transact any businesshe might require; therefore John at once drew upon them for the amountof this purchase, and placed himself in communication respecting theother arrangements; forwarding the note of sale from Smithers, and anobligation from him to sign the necessary deeds of transfer when theywere ready for execution. He then took his leave of the family, intending to go down to Moreton Bay, whence a steamer plied to Sydney, and on thence to superintend his business there and select thenecessaries for forming the station; at the same time that his brotherand Joey returned to New England, to wait there until John had so farperfected his plans, as to be able to bring up his supplies and preparethe station for the reception of the sheep. 

It is unnecessary to trace the peregrinations of John Ferguson, or totire the reader with a detail of William's every day life at Acaciacreek; we will simply say that in the course of about six weeks Johnreturned to Brisbane, and wrote to his brother to muster their sheep andstart with them for the station as soon as possible. He stated that hehad engaged drays to take up their loading, and that he intended toprecede them himself; so that he would in all probability reach thestation some weeks before either the supplies or the sheep, and wouldengage some bush carpenters as he went up, to prepare the place fortheir reception. To carry out this intention, he made all speed for hisdestination; and arriving at Alma, the nearest township to his place, onthe fourth day, he there engaged two men, to whom he gave directions tomeet him at Brompton, and pushed on himself for that station. 

Alma and Brompton lay about equidistant from his own place; but hisinability to describe sufficiently clearly to the understanding of themen the _locale_ of the new station, and his rations having been left atthe latter place, it was necessary for him to proceed there first. Uponhis appearance at Mr. Smithers', he was welcomed with much cordiality;and every assistance was given him by the kind proprietor, though he hadbeen quite disinterested in the arrangements between Bob and theFergusons. Yet such was his kindly disposition, that considerations ofinterest weighed very little with him, and he freely and kindly tenderedany aid that lay in his power. He recommended John to go over to therun, and, if he had not done so already, to select a site for hisstation; and for that purpose he offered him the services of one of hisown men; while he promised to have the carpenters directed to the placewhenever they made their appearance. 

The run had been originally called Fern Vale by Bob Smithers, when hetendered for it to the government; and John Ferguson, who thought hecould not improve upon it, had allowed it to retain that name. The partof it which had attracted Bob's attention, and induced him to sochristen it, was a gently undulating valley opening to the Gibson river, as the crow flies, a few miles below Strawberry Hill. The north side ofthe valley was partially covered with the fern plant (which suggestedthe name); and here, it struck John, would be a good site for hisstation, and he consequently determined to visit it first. 

On the following morning, in company with the man, whose assistance hadbeen so kindly given him by Mr. Smithers, John rode over to the run, andreaching the valley we have mentioned camped for the night. In themorning, at the first sight of his position, he was convinced no bettersituation could be found; so gave up the idea of any furtherprospecting, and prepared for the carpenters, by marking out the sitesfor the house, huts, and yards. 

Down the valley, which we have said opened out to the river, meandered abeautiful little limpid stream; on the upper side of the vale, andreceding from the banks of the river, rose a gentle acclivity, whichpointed itself out as the spot on which to erect the house; while on theflat below was every convenience for the huts and yards. Above thispoint the river took a considerable bend, making on the other side adeep pocket, which was low and apparently subject to flooding. It wascovered by a dense scrub, over which, from the elevated position Johnhad chosen for his domicile, he could catch a glimpse of StrawberryHill; which, though on the same side of the river as Fern Vale, and somedistance round, appeared, when looking across the head of the stream, not very far off. 

The carpenters shortly making their appearance, all were soon in a stateof animation; and, before long, the crash of falling timber, the echoof the axe in felling, and the mallet in splitting the logs for thefences, resounded through the wood, where hitherto solitude had heldundisputed sway; and, long before the arrival of the flocks or thesupplies, substantial stock-yards had been erected, as well as huts forthe shepherds, and a commodious store-house. The construction of thedwelling-house, being a matter of a secondary consideration, it wasnecessarily left to the last; and the whole party set to work busily toput up a large shed for shearing, and storing the wool when ready forpacking. 

CHAPTER V. 

 "How gaily is at first begun Our life's uncertain race! Whilst yet that sprightly morning sun, With which we just set out to run, Enlightens all the place. "

 COUNTESS OF WINCHELSEA. 

When William Ferguson received his brother's letter, he immediatelycollected the draft of sheep with which they were to commence theirstation, and started with them for Fern Vale, in company with Joey andtwo shepherds. The route he intended to adopt, in his migration, wassomewhat the same as that taken by his brother and himself on theirfirst journey to Brompton. He was induced to make choice of this, partly to enable him to renew the acquaintance of Mr. Dawson; butprincipally on account of its leading him through a part of the countrylittle frequented, by which he would be enabled to prosecute his journeywith less chance of molestation. He therefore communicated his intentionto Mr. Dawson by post, which (though taking a more circuitous route thanhe) would reach Barra Warra long before he made his appearance with hisflock. With a large number of sheep in charge, the travelling wasnecessarily slow and tedious; and some time had been consumed ere theyoung man approached the station of his acquaintance. No circumstanceworth recording had marked the passage thus far; all things seemedpropitious; and as William left his sheep in the charge of hisemployees, encamped within sight of Barra Warra, he felt certain of asuccessful termination to his journey. 

Upon reaching the house of Mr. Dawson, he was disappointed to find thatgentleman from home (having been suddenly called away to town onbusiness); though he left word with his good lady, to express hisregrets at the circumstance that prevented his having the pleasure ofmeeting his young friend, and his hope that William would make BarraWarra his resting-place as long as he could conveniently do so. Mrs. Dawson expressed her happiness to see him, and also pressed herhusband's invitation; while the children, who speedily remembered him, uttered their welcomes in tones of joyous gratulation. 

William thanked the kind-hearted lady, and accepted the invitation withpleasure; though the visit, he said, would necessarily be short, as herequired to urge on the sheep, and he did not like resigning theresponsibility to either of the men. He was sorry, he said, that hisvisits hitherto had been such flying ones; but promised to make amendsat an early opportunity, when he anticipated he would be under thenecessity of craving the hospitality of Barra Warra for his sister; whopurposed joining her brothers when their station was made a littlecomfortable. The bare proposition quite delighted Mrs. Dawson, who waswarm in her expressions of approval; and said she would be charmed tomake the acquaintance of Miss Ferguson, and hoped she would have moresociability than her brothers, and not require so much pressing toinduce a visit from her. 

William assured his friend, that his sister would reciprocate thedelight; for she had already, he said, expressed a desire to know Mrs. Dawson, from simply hearing him mention her name. 

We need not trace the conversation through all its minutiæ, nor delayour narrative by detailing the further progress of William Ferguson; butsimply mention, that on the following morning he proceeded on hisjourney, while we turn to view the movements of his brother. 

In the meantime, John had got all his buildings so far completed, as tohave them ready for the settlement of the station as soon as the flocksand the drays with the supplies should have arrived. It was not hisintention to build the house until they settled themselves, and got somelittle leisure after shearing time; and, until then, he proposed livingwith his brother in one of the huts erected for the men. He now lookedanxiously for the drays; and as the weather had been fine since theystarted, and they had been a good time on the road, he believed theycould not be far distant; especially as he had received intimation fromMr. Smithers that a man had arrived at Brompton, who had passed them theday before he reached that station. He therefore thought it advisable toleave the carpenters at work on a few odds and ends that still requireddoing, and proceed along the road to meet the drays, and hurry them onto their destination. He did so; and some few miles past Strawberry Hillhe descried the lumbering vehicles jogging on at their (or rather thebullocks') leisure; and he turned with them, in company, until theyreached the crossing-place of the Wombi. The appearance of this spot didnot, by any means, favourably prepossess the minds of thebullock-drivers: the banks were of black alluvial soil, and had a steepdescent to the water; which, though reduced to its ordinary level, looked black from the colour of the banks and the soil through which itpassed; and had an appearance of depth, not at all inviting to driversof heavily-laden drays. 

However, cross it they were compelled to; for there was no other placewhere the river could be passed with any degree of safety, without goingconsiderably farther; so, after directing John to go over with hishorse, that he might see what he had to encounter, the firstbullock-driver urged his team down the slope and into the water, whereit splashed and floundered on until it succeeded in bringing the drayabout half way across. There the bottom was so soft, and the dray wheelshad become so embedded in the mud, that only with the assistance of thesecond team could the passage be effected. The second dray was not evenso fortunate as the first; for all efforts of the double team wereunavailing to pass the rubicon; and it settled in the mud mid-waybetween the banks. Adding to this, the fact that the water was alreadyabove the axle, and consequently damaging the loading; and that in allprobability, if not speedily extricated, the dray would become even moreimmovable; it was evident, to the men, some strenuous efforts wererequired to overcome the difficulty. 

The Australian bullock dray with its bovine traction, we may remark, iswithout exception the most primitive means of conveyance that can eitherbe devised or imagined. The ponderous vehicle, in perfect keeping withthe heavy and drowsy quadrupeds who draw it at a snail-like pace, standsprominently forth as a reproach to the inventive genius of man; and, excepting perhaps the substitute of iron in coupling and linking theanimals, and in some parts of the vehicular construction, the wholeequipage possesses not the shadow of an improvement on the popularconveyances of the age of Sesostris. But in this sunny land, settlersare content with the questionable facilities of transit offered by theseprimeval means; while they console themselves with the belief that noother style of vehicle would stand the wear and tear of being drawn overlogs and stumps of trees, rocks and precipices, and through rivers andswamps; and that no other animal but the patient bullock, could endurethe fatigue and privation of alternate heat, wet, hunger and thirst, anda constant taxation of strength and resignation. 'Tis true, at times, the obstacles to travelling are almost insuperable, and that the roadshave no title to the dignity of such a name; being, in most instances, merely tracks formed by the drays following the course of a predecessor;but still, no attempt even is made to improve the means of conveyance. The settlers content themselves with the existence of things that be, and are satisfied with the progressive rate of from fifteen to twentymiles a day; at which speed a team of ten bullocks, in fine weather, will draw a dray with thirty to forty hundred-weight; while during wet, they may not perform the same distance in a week. 

The individuals who manage the guidance of these machines, and who aregenerally accompanied by an assistant, are too often some of the mostreprobate members of the family of man. Their sole accomplishments arethe management of their drays; the forcible appeals to their bullocks, made by the application of their long whips (upon the expertness in theuse of which they pride themselves); the facile utterance of theirblaspheming interjections; and their ability to plunder withoutdetection. The _acme_ of their human felicity is perpetual intoxication;and to gratify this propensity, they have no scruples in assistingthemselves to any liquor which they may be entrusted to carry;frequently adopting ingenious plans to abstract it from the bulk, andreplace it by water in such a way as to defy detection. They areignorant in the extreme, and though assumed to be civilised and sentientbeings, their vices render them, in the scale of humanity, on a par withthe aboriginal blacks; individuals of whom, frequently follow in theirtrain, and, until debased by their vile influence, by far theirsuperiors in an ethical point of view. 

In stimulating the propulsion of his team, the bullock-driver addresseseach of his beasts by name; such as, "eh, Smiler;" "come up, Strawberry;" "Cap-tain, " etc. ; accompanying every admonition with aprofusion of oaths, and a wholesale application of the lash. Ifremonstrated with for his use of so ungenteel a vocabulary, he willendeavour, with considerable earnestness, to convince you that thebullocks perfectly understand what is said to them; and that they are sowayward in their disposition, that nothing short of such determined andforcible language is of any avail. He will support his arguments withmany stories of the wonderful instinct and percipiency displayed by hisanimals; all of which stories, though exceedingly marvellous, obtainimplicit credence in the mind of the narrator; and only come short, inpoint of hyperbolical marvel, of the wonderful utterance of Tom Connor'scat, in the plain Anglo-Saxon vernacular. Though we do not intend eitherto support or refute the sophistry of these men, it is only just to say, that considering every bullock has a name, upon the utterance of whichit is made to feel an application of the whip, it is not to be wonderedat that the animals are soon taught to recognise their appellations, andin the expectation of chastisement, to brighten up when they hear them. 

The reader may imagine we have drawn too depraved a picture of thisneglected class of men; but we solemnly affirm we have not. Thereare, of course, exceptions to this, as to every rule; for we haveknown many industrious, and even respectable well-conducted men, asbullock-drivers; but unfortunately they were only the exceptions:the general mass are as corrupt and vicious as it is possible forhuman beings to be. Why this is so, we are at a loss rightly tounderstand; though we imagine the primary cause is this: Attendant onbullock-driving are many discomforts; more, possibly, than in any otheroccupation in the bush. Hence it is an employment which industrious orenterprising individuals generally shun; and in the successive scales ofadvancement, in which the steady immigrant effects his rise, it is leftto members of the lowest scum; who prefer the freedom of this erraticlife, to the more settled conformities of order and society. 

We left John Ferguson on the bank of the river, gazing on the draysafely (or rather unsafely) fixed in the bed of the river. Thebullock-drivers had lashed, frantically shouted, and swore; while theyperformed sundry manoeuvres, and excited evolutions; to induce thebullocks to strain an extra nerve, to extricate the vehicle: but all tono purpose; the efforts of the beasts were unavailing, while the delayonly rendered the case more hopeless. In this state of things, the menperceived the only course open to them, was to lighten the load as muchas possible, by partially unloading the dray, and carrying the goodsover the river themselves. With this determination they set earnestly towork, and succeeded in removing the greater portion of the goods; whenthey made another attempt, happily with better success than previously;and brought the dray from its miry adherence to a position on the bank. It was then reladen with the goods; while the men, barely recovered fromthe chagrin caused by the misadventure, performed their work with asullen moroseness, enlivening their gloom by animadversions on theriver, the country, and everybody connected with their peregrination. 

In this humour John left them to follow him, while he proceeded to thestation, where we will also lead the reader. Upon his return to FernVale, he found, during his short absence, that the blacks, attracted bythe appearance of a fresh settlement, had congregated in someconsiderable numbers; though more out of curiosity than with any idea ofaggression. At sight of John, a number of them immediately assembledround him; looking at him, and everything about the place, in a sort ofinquisitive manner; jabbering amongst themselves; and handlingeverything portable within their reach. The group consisted of sometwenty persons of both sexes and various ages; and were a family of theNungar tribe, which usually made its home on the other side of theGibson river, in the scrub, and the mountains and broken countryreceding from it. 

The sight of this visitation did not altogether please the youngsquatter, for he thought he saw in the future considerable annoyancefrom similar visits. He therefore demanded of them what they required;and told them, that though he had no objection to their coming about theplace so long as they behaved themselves, if he caught them committingany theft, or becoming in any way troublesome, he would not allow one ofthem afterwards to approach the station. 

They seemed to understand this communication; for one of them informedJohn, that a good many of their tribe had been employed by thesquatters, to wash their sheep, and do work about the stations, andwould be very glad to do the same for him. Thinking possibly that itmight be the means of coming to some friendly understanding with thetribe, and would give him a means of acquiring some knowledge of theirmovements and disposition, he thought it advisable to take the servicesof some of them; more especially as in the then rough state of thesettlement, their services could be turned to some account. Acting onthis impulse, then, he selected two young athletic black boys; whoseemed more intelligent than the majority, and who appeared to have adisposition to remain on the station, and to adapt themselves to theways of the white man. He then distributed some tobacco and rationsamongst them, and they took their departure apparently well pleased. 

By this time the drays were seen making their approach; and great wasinstantly the bustle in preparation for the reception of the "loading. "The articles which constitute a station's "supplies" are of such akaleidoscopic variety, that their enumeration would almost be endless;and we will merely observe that the heterogeneous mass was safely, andspeedily, transferred from the dray to the ground, whence it wasdeposited in the store. Various edibles; and their condiments such astea, sugar, flour, oilman's stores, etc. , were successively unpacked andstowed away; and everything appeared to be sound, until it wasdiscovered that the salt, which had been placed in the bottom of thedray, was unfortunately damaged; it had, in fact, during its submersionin the water "dissolved, " and

 "Like the baseless fabric of a vision, Left not a rack behind. "

Such events as this are of frequent occurrence; and, where theopportunities of procuring supplies are very rare, severe are thestraits, and numerous the inconveniences, to which residents in theinterior are subjected. After long and continued wet or dry weather, when travelling is rendered difficult or impossible, from the countrybeing impassable by floods, or impracticable from drought and absence offeed, settlers in the remote districts are often reduced to statesbordering on absolute starvation, or at least to a subsistence on meat, without any concomitant "fixins. " When such cases occur, which we arehappy to say is seldom, the squatters lend to one another the articlesmost in demand, until they either all become destitute of provisions, orare relieved by the receipt of a fresh supply. But articles that are notin every day consumption, and not considered of paramount importance, they are frequently compelled to do without for months; and soaccustomed do they become to this species of self-denial, that theabsence of many things is thought very little of. Salt, however, is anarticle indispensable on a station; for the greater portion of the meatconsumed is required to be salted, to preserve it in the hot weather;while it is also frequently necessary, on some stations, to supply it tothe sheep and cattle. For this purpose, rock salt is usually provided;but, in its absence, the ordinary coarse salt is put into small canvasbags, and suspended from trees, that the cattle may satisfy their salinecravings by licking the moisture, which, from the nightly dews and thenatural dampness of the salt, exudes through the pores of the canvas. 

When John saw the nature of his loss, knowing there was no use incomplaining, he made the best of his mishap by determining to ride overin the morning to Strawberry Hill, and see if he could not borrow somefrom his neighbour there until the receipt of his further supplies forshearing. Before going, however, on the following morning, he desired tosettle with the bullock-driver for the carriage of his supplies up, andto make arrangements with him for the occupation of one of his teams forthe remainder of the season. For that purpose he took his bridle in hishand, and proceeded to catch his horse, which was running in one of thepaddocks lately fenced in; and on the way, as he passed the camp of thedraymen, he requested the fellow to go up to the hut in a few minutes, to be settled with, and receive his instructions for further employment. He then went in search of his steed, leaving the men stretched on thegrass in front of a fire, near which stood their pots of tea, cooling;and in the ashes of which lay embedded their "damper, " receiving itsfinishing heat, preparatory to being subjected to the operation ofmastication; while the fellows themselves lay motionless, and carelessof everything around them, in the full enjoyment of the everlastingpipe. 

Oh, smoke! thou deity of thousands, and the special idol of thebush-man! thou that soothest the dull moments of a weary solitude, andthe anguish of a desponding spirit; that satisfiest the cravings of aconsuming hunger; that alleviates the pains, brightens the intellects, and dispels illusion of the morbid fancies and diseased imaginations ofthy votaries! thou anodyne for melancholy; thou disseminator of goodfeeling; conciliator and ratifyer of peace offerings! without thee whatwould mortal bush-man be?--they, to whom thou art a friend in need. Allpotent smoke! thine influence is supreme; thy virtues are legion; andthy capabilities are boundless as the vapour into which thou meltest asa holocaust for thy happy devotees. If the pipe could but speak, whatmysteries could it reveal! the rapturous visions of the inspired lover, rising in the circular imageries of its vaporous fumes, to beguile hisfancies in the absence of his loved one; or the workings of a deepdespondency and bitter disappointment, carrying its victim with blindimpetuosity to a melancholy contemplation of a drear destruction, untilthe spirit seizes with avidity the proffered consolation, and thephantasmia vanishes under thy narcotic influence. The miseries of aninsatiable thirst, and the sufferings of a gnawing hunger, fatigue, andindisposition, are all forgotten during the enjoyment of a smoke; whilein a dilemma, or danger, in a deluging discomfort, or the anxietiesconsequent on being lost in the bush, the pipe is the ever readycomforter; and one which rarely fails to bring consolation to the mind. Well, therefore, may it be imagined that the pipe is "the friend of thepeople;" and that, not only of the canaille, the "great unwashed, " butthe entire nation; who in this day of general enlightenment and mentalpercipiency, have not failed to distinguish its claims, and to "renderhomage where homage is due. " Many are the shifts, and crude theinventions in the bush, when emergencies call forth the application ofthe old proverb respecting the relationship that exists betweendestitution and genius; and when to be minus the support of theVirginian weed, is considered a greater misfortune than to be wantingof the necessaries of life. Hence, when requested by John Ferguson to goup to the hut, the draymen had not the remotest intention of disturbingthemselves, at least for a time; and they continued to puff in an inertsilence, while they contemplated the flames before them, and ejected anoccasional expectoration, at an imaginary pandemonium in the embers. 

They had remained in this state of _statu quo_ for some time, when JohnFerguson, who had caught his horse, and returned to the hut, not findingthe men there, came down to where they lay. He then addressed himself tothe still recumbent driver, and requested that he would come up with himand be settled with, and arrange for further loading. The independentcarrier did eventually condescend to rise, and he slowly bent his stepsto the station, accompanied by John, who gave him by the way a sketch ofhis plans. He wished him to start at once with his dray for Alma, andto bring back a quantity of shingles, window frames, and doors (forwhich, he told him, he would give him an order to a store-keeper there, who kept a supply of them); and then to return immediately, as thethings were necessary for the construction of his house. The carpenters, whom he had on the station, were to employ themselves in cutting thetimber and planks required in the erection; which they were to proceedwith, anticipating the return of the dray; by which time John expectedto be ready for shearing, and would be able to give it a load of wool totake down to the port for shipment. They walked on in this way for somelittle distance, Ferguson absorbed in his conversation with thebullock-driver, and paying little attention to his path; while thelatter listened to his directions, seemingly without noticing hisremarks, beyond an occasional grunt of acquiescence, and with his eyesfixed upon the ground. 

A tributary (or rather the bed of what after heavy rains formed atributary) of the creek, though now almost dry, here crossed their path. At some remote age a large tree had fallen across the stream, and, having buried itself in the soil on either side, formed a barrier to thecurrent; which had in the course of years left a deposit of earth andsand, so as to bring its bed above the impediment on a level with theobstruction; while, on the lower side of the log, the bank of sand andpebbles had been hollowed out into a pool by the eddying of a miniaturecataract. Though the creek was otherwise dry, in this pool there waswater; and John Ferguson, walking along the course with his companion, and leading his horse after him by the bridle, made a short bound toclear the water-hole. He, however, was prevented from effecting hispurpose, by the bullock-driver, who, at the moment of his leap, seizedhim by the arm, and caused him to alight, instead of on the bank, in themiddle of the water; where he stood up to his knees, with a look at hiscompanion of enquiring astonishment. The man, hardly able to refrainfrom indulging in a positive fit of stentorian cachinnation, withoutdeigning any auricular explanation, pointed to the bank, on whichFerguson felt annoyed for not being permitted to reach. He instantlydirected his eyes to the spot indicated by his companion, and at onceperceived the nature of the escape he had made; for there had lain alarge brown snake, on which he would have inevitably trodden, theconsequences of which made him shudder to contemplate. Being arousedfrom its torpor by the approach and close proximity of those, whom itsinstinct told it were enemies, the reptile raised its head and about twofeet of its body in a perpendicular attitude, with the head slightlyextended and swaying from side to side; while it protruded its longforked tongue in fitful starts, and expressed a combination of fear andvenomous hate in loud hisses. John felt his position, as the beast in atortuous course slowly curled its body towards him, as being anythingbut pleasant; and being only armed with an ordinary riding-whip, considered that, if discretion was not the better part of valour, it wascertainly more conducive to his safety. 

With this belief, and with his eyes fixed upon the reptile, he made aretrograde movement to extricate himself from the unpleasantness of atleast his damp location; but he was not a little surprised to find thesnake approaching still nearer to him. This puzzled him exceedingly; hecould not understand the idea of a snake attacking a man, when there wasa chance open for it to escape; such a thing he had never heard of, andhad hitherto believed it never to have occurred. But such in thisinstance was evidently (he thought) the intention of his opponent, orwhy should it continue to diminish the distance between him and itself. If John did not witness this diminution with alarm, he at least desiredto be better supplied with defence, and shouted to his companion toprocure a stout stick. Obtaining no reply, he cast a hasty glance overhis shoulder, to see what had become of the man; when the snake, takingadvantage of the momentary withdrawal of his eyes, made a rapid movementtowards him. This John instantly perceived, and believing the reptilewas determined to attack him, "he joined issue" at once, and gave afurious cut at it with his whip. The brute, however, evaded the blow, and once more erected itself in front of Ferguson, hissing itsmalevolence almost in his very face. This movement decided its fate, forwith a motion as quick as thought he gave another cut with his whip;which, with a whiz that discomposed the nerves of his horse, encircledwith its supple thong the extended neck of the reptile, and terminatedits existence by dislocation. He then effected another fulfilment of theprognosticated command of an inscrutable divinity, by crushing its headunder his heel; when he was joined by his companion, who had beensearching for a weapon to aid in the strife. The snake thus destroyedwas of the brown species, and deadly venomous; it measured about sixfeet, and, if it had been trodden upon by John Ferguson, would have inall human probability saved us from the further pursuit of thisnarrative. Its pertinacity in approaching to its destruction, we maystate, was owing to the fact of John preventing it from reaching itshole; which they now discovered under the log, and close to where he hadstood. The couple now pursued their course, and after arriving at thehuts and settling with the drayman for the work he had alreadyperformed, and giving him an order to the store-keeper in Alma, with thenecessary instructions, John took his departure for Strawberry Hill. 

CHAPTER VI. 

 "The mistress of the mansion came, Mature of age, a graceful dame; And every courteous rite was paid, That hospitality could claim. "

 SIR W. SCOTT. 

"I believe I have the pleasure of addressing Mr. Rainsfield, " said JohnFerguson, as he rode up to a gentleman at Strawberry Hill, who by hisappearance indicated himself as the proprietor of the station. 

"That is my name, " replied he addressed; "and I presume I have thehonour of meeting Mr. Ferguson?"

John acknowledging to his appellation, dismounted from his horse, andshaking hands with his newly-made acquaintance, the latter remarked: "Ihave to apologize, Mr. Ferguson, for not making my respects to youbefore; but you will pardon me, when I tell you I have been away fromthe station for some little time, and it was only yesterday when Ireturned, that my people told me of your settlement. However, I am happythat you have anticipated me in this visit; and if you are not in anyvery particular hurry, let one of my fellows put your horse in thestable, and just step into the house, that I may introduce you to thefolks inside. They will be delighted, I am sure, that you have favouredus by introducing yourself;" saying which, he called one of the boysabout the place to look after John's steed, while he led its owner tothe dwelling. Of the mansion itself we need say nothing: it was simply aweather-boarded verandah cottage; the like of which is to be met with sofrequently in the bush, as to give the idea of their being built to anuniversal plan; it was neat, and apparently comfortable. 

When John Ferguson entered with Mr. Rainsfield he was ushered at onceinto the sitting-room; where, at the table, sat two ladies busilyemployed on some description of needlework, whose destined use was amystery to the uninitiated. On the table before them, and at their feet, were strewn their necessary paraphernalia; and so busily engaged werethey at their occupation, that they were not aware of the presence ofany one besides themselves, until Mr. Rainsfield gave them notice of thefact by remarking, "Mr. Ferguson has waived all ceremony, my dear, andcalled upon us to make himself known, and commence a friendship, which Itrust will remain uninterrupted. "

The ladies then rose, and were introduced to John, as "Mrs. Rainsfield, my wife, " and "Miss Rainsfield, my cousin;" and both expressed to ourhero their welcomes and delight, that they had been so fortunate as tosecure friendly and companionable neighbours. Mrs. Rainsfield at oncegave a _carte blanche_ to the young man and his brother; and statedthat she hoped she would see as much of them at Strawberry Hill as theirtime would admit, and trusted that their society would be a mutualenjoyment. 

John expressed himself highly flattered with his kind reception andinvitations; and in the name of his brother and himself, promised toavail himself frequently of their hospitality, from which he anticipatedmuch pleasure. But leaving them to continue their conversation withoutinterruption, we will, with the indulgence of the reader, describe theseveral members of the Rainsfield family. 

Mr. John Rainsfield, the proprietor of the station, was a gentleman ofabout two-and-thirty years of age; his appearance was what might becalled gentlemanly; though, while being perhaps prepossesing, havingnothing about it to attract any particular attention. In his dispositionhe was thought to be morose; though it was not indicative of a confirmedill-temper, but arose from a reserve occasioned by a distaste for thepopular practices of his neighbours. Those who knew him found himanything but distant, and by his friends he was pronounced agood-hearted fellow. It is true, on his station, he was a strictdisciplinarian, and had a mortal enmity to the blacks; notwithstandingwhich he was usually liked by his men, and rarely had so much troublewith the aborigines as his neighbours. His history was that of most ofhis class; an emigration to the country to better his circumstances, anda pastoral servitude in various grades, until he had accumulatedsufficient to either take up or purchase country, and procure a flock ofsheep; which could have been purchased at a few shillings a-head. Thus, having once procured a start, his success was almost certain; and, infact, at the time of which we write, he had firmly established himselfin a position of comfort and respectability. 

Mrs. Rainsfield was a lady some few years the junior of her husband; waskind and amiable, with a pleasing expression of countenance, which, ifnot absolutely pretty, was certainly winning, and calculated to demandattention. The attachment between herself and her husband had been avery early one; and when he had left his native land to seek his fortunein a far away home, it had been determined that as soon as he was in aposition to support her, she should join him in Australia. This plan hadbeen carried out; and after a short sojourn in the country he had beenenabled to send home for her. She joyfully responded to his call, andupon her arrival was united to her faithful lover. Since their uniontheir life had been an uninterrupted course of domestic bliss; and theywere blessed, at the period of our narrative, with four pledges of theirhappiness. 

Eleanor Rainsfield, who, as already introduced to the reader as Mr. Rainsfield's cousin, was the daughter of that gentleman's deceaseduncle, who had early emigrated, with a newly-married wife, to thecolony. He was by profession a medical man, and for many years duringhis early residence in the country, pursued his avocation profitably;but in the midst of an extending practice he lost his wife, to whom hewas fondly and devotedly attached. The effect of this blow he neverthoroughly got over, but gradually became in every respect an alteredman. From one of unflinching energy and firm determination, hedegenerated into a desponding, weak, and vacillating imbecile; andlingered on in a mental aberration for some two years, when he died. During the period of his distraction it is not surprising that hispractice rapidly declined, and ultimately became completely destroyed;hence, upon his demise, his family were left perfectly destitute. 

From the time of her mother's death Eleanor became the director of allthe family affairs, and the domestic responsibility gave her anappearance of thoughtfulness and care hardly consistent with one soyoung; while the effects still adhering to her, her manner seemed toretain an habitual reserve and melancholy. At the period of herintroduction to John Ferguson she was about sixteen; her figure, thoughnot absolutely slender, was light and active, and of that altitudewhich, in women, would be considered the medium; not so short as toappear little, nor so tall but that she could look up to a man ofordinary stature. Her form was well modelled, and rounded off toperfection. Her shoulders were of that description so generallyfashioned by the chisel of the sculptor, though, possibly, they wererather a shade too broad; being such as would give the beholder the ideaof the owner, when more matured, of being a "fine woman. " Her movementswere effected with a native grace, at once denoting the lady; and herelasticity of tread, and firmness of step, were only equalled by herloftiness of carriage. Her face was of the oval form, with a wide marbleforehead (which, but for her winning modesty and gentle manner, wouldhave been considered as bearing the stamp of coldness and hauteur);eyebrows so well defined, as almost to give an idea of pencilling; deepblue lustrous eyes, protected by long lashes; a nose slightly tending tothe aquiline; a mouth of enticing sweetness, and an alabaster cheek, almost imperceptibly tinged with the faintest pink. Her hair of "bonnybrown, " and of which she had a luxuriant crop, was worn slightly off thecheek. Her dress was neatness and elegance combined; so made as to comeup to the throat, and there terminate in a neat open collar; under whichwas a pink ribbon, contrasting pleasingly with the otherwisepale-looking features of the wearer. Her sleeves ended in a band, whichencircled her wrists, and displayed a pair of hands, rivalling insymmetry the choicest sculpture, and in whiteness the calico on whichshe was industriously employing herself. Her features, though notperfect, were calm and beautifully expressive, and the lustre of hercomplexion at once struck the beholder with admiration; while, to her, affectation being unknown, the easy confidence with which sheapproached and welcomed a stranger, rendered her perfectly bewitching;and to this description we may add, that, though in the florescence ofyouth, she was in the full bloom of womanhood. 

Start not, gentle reader, at the paradox we have uttered; for inAustralia, that land of precocity, where both vegetable and animalnature shoots up into maturity so quickly, the transition appears almostmiraculous; and those we have known yesterday as children, we aresurprised, probably, after a year or two's absence, to see grown to manor woman's estate. Such cases are not the exception, but the rule. So, therefore, be not surprised when we state that at an age, when, in thisstaid old-fashioned going country, match-making matrons may be thinkingof introducing their daughters to the world, their cognates, the fair"corn-stalks" of Australia, will not only have long since made their_debût_ in society, but have settled into devoted wives and happymothers. And, bless their little hearts! we doubt not, but that, asthey are matured both in person and mind at an earlier age, and haveconsequently less time and opportunities to acquire the deceptions ofsociety, they are as much, if not more, calculated to fulfil theirworldly destiny, with credit to themselves and happiness to theirconcomitants, as their more favoured sisters of our own glorious isle. 

Eleanor Rainsfield, as we have hinted, retained a cast of melancholy inher features, which gave her an appearance of coldness and reserve tostrangers, aided, perhaps, by a natural diffidence and desire forseclusion; which she preferred to thrusting herself forward, or mixingmuch with the world. When known, however, she was gentle and kind, withan amiability and candour exceedingly attractive; and when interestedwith the conversation of one for whom she entertained respect, a smileusually played over her placid features and made her perfectlyirresistible. This smile would vanish with the cessation of theconversation, and the evanescent animation pass with it; leaving thestranger in doubt, when gazing on the returning gloom, if the formersunshine had been the effect of pleasurable emotions, or a shadowingforth of a latent melancholy. She was highly accomplished, and her mindwas the emblem of purity itself. Her present refuge had been offered toher by her cousin upon the death of her father, and gratefully accepted;while the remainder of the family had been dispersed amongst variousrelatives. 

The other members of the Rainsfield family were the children, of whom wehave already made mention, and Thomas Rainsfield, a junior brother ofthe proprietor of the station, with whom he was "acquiring experience. "He was a fine, frank, open-hearted young fellow of aboutthree-and-twenty; but as he was absent from home at the period of whichwe write, we will defer introducing him to the reader until we can do soin _propria personæ_. In a small cottage, a short distance from thehouse, resided Mr. Billing (who acted as clerk and storekeeper, andwhose duties were to keep the accounts of the station, and distributethe rations to the men) and his wife (who officiated as governess); withsundry olive branches, who bore unmistakeable evidences, from theirfacial delineations, of their Billing paternity. 

John Ferguson, in a few words, explained the nature of the mishap whichhad occasioned his visit, and begged Mr. Rainsfield to supply his wants, until such time as he could receive a further supply. The requiredaccommodation was willingly acceded to; and Mr. Rainsfield remarked thathe would give instructions to Mr. Billing to send it over to Fern Vale, the first time that he sent out the rations; and as that would be on thefollowing day, he had no doubt that the arrangement would suit hisneighbour. 

John replied to Mr. Rainsfield, that he was exceedingly obliged to himfor his kind offer; but stated that as he would be returning to thestation at once, he would save him the trouble by taking a bag with himon his horse. 

"Nonsense, " cried his entertainer, "I can never think of letting youleave us in such a hurry; you have nothing that requires your immediatereturn, and you may as well favour us with your company for a few days, at any rate until you hear of the approach of your sheep; by which timeI expect Tom will have returned, and no doubt we may manage to give youa hand to get them over the river. Besides, the ladies are alwayscomplaining of _ennui_, and will be happy of your society in thedisposal of a few leisure hours. I am sure I need not appeal to my wife, to confirm my welcome; for though she now preserves a strict silence, Iknow she is desirous for you to remain. "

"Indeed, my dear, " replied the lady, "you are perfectly correct in yourconjectures. I should indeed be pleased if Mr. Ferguson would remainwith us for a few days; not to make a convenience of him in the mannerwhich you describe, but to impress him with a favourable idea of theneighbours amongst whom he has settled. So, if he will allow himself tobe persuaded, we will arrange his domestication in as short a time aspossible. "

"I am exceedingly indebted to you, Mrs. Rainsfield, for your expressionof kind feeling, " exclaimed John; "and, if not putting you to too greatinconvenience, I will accept the hospitality of your worthy husband andyourself, to await the approach of my brother. "

"Inconvenience?" replied Mrs. Rainsfield; "who ever heard ofinconvenience in the bush? I have long forgotten the application of theword; and at any rate, if I could call to mind its meaning, I nevercould think of allowing it to influence me, when the wishes of myhusband are in question;" saying which, and looking archly at herspouse, she quitted the room. 

"Ah! she's up to some little game now;" exclaimed that victimlaughingly, as his wife left the apartment: "depend upon it she intendsbacking up that soft soap, with some little scheme of personalaggrandizement. You can't think, my dear sir, " he continued, addressingJohn Ferguson, "how these women manage to get round us, when they takeit into their little heads to flatter our vanity. If ever you submit tothe thraldom of a marital character, you must be proof against thatweakness. "

"I have no idea of the nature of the bondage to be borne by youself-constituted slaves, " replied John; "but judging from what I havewitnessed in this house, I should imagine the allegiance required fromyou was not exacting, nor the servitude of a crushing nature. What doyou think, Miss Rainsfield, " said he, turning to the young lady; "isyour cousin's case a specimen of the general rule or a solitaryexception?"

"Well, sir, I can hardly say, " she replied; "but would think thehappiness of a married life depended in a great measure upon acongeniality of temper, mutual forbearance, and reciprocity of kindlyfeeling, existing between the parties concerned; and that if amiabilityis allied to impetuosity, or petulance to generosity, the result mustnecessarily prove disastrous. "

"Well done, my little oracle, " ejaculated her cousin; "there now, sir, you have a dissertation on matrimony, and a moral, the truth of which Idoubt if you'll ever dispute. But my cousin has surely turnedphilosopher, and is moralizing in expectancy on her own engagement; butforgive me, Nell" (he continued, as the young lady cast a reproachfullook at him that made him regret the allusion), "I did not intend topain you by any reference to your _affair d'amour_; I had no idea it wasan unpleasant subject with you. " So, after making what he thought the_amende honorable_ to his cousin; but in reality only doing, as all mendo who attempt to explain away some pain-giving remark; that is, addingpoignancy to the wounding shaft; he led off his visitor to accompany himround the station. 

In accepting the invitation to sojourn with this family for a few days, we suspect it was something more than the mere desire to wait for hisbrother, that influenced John Ferguson. It had been his intention, whenhe left his own place, to proceed on the road to meet William, and lendhim his assistance in driving the sheep; and, therefore, there appearssomething inexplicable in his remaining inactive at Strawberry Hill. Could it be that any feeling of admiration for his entertainer's faircousin had exercised any spell in his detention; or that he was merelypleased with the people with whom he found himself, and desired tocultivate their acquaintance? We suspect, rather, that the fascinationof the young lady was the secret cause, though, perhaps, unknown even toJohn himself. 'Tis true, he could not divest his thoughts of her image;from passing events they continually wandered, and incessantly revertedto a contemplation of her calm and placid features. In his thoughts, Eleanor Rainsfield was ever present; and though each meditation of herintruded itself without causing a thought of the nature of the feelinghe was fostering, he at last found himself deeply involved in a mentalenunciation of her charms; which concluded in the decision, that she wasindeed a creature to be prized; and if not perfection itself, thenearest approach to it, that it is the fortune of mortals to witness. 

"She really is a charming girl, " he mentally exclaimed; "but why am Icontinually thinking of her? I have no desire to be married; besideswhich, her cousin taxed her with an engagement, and, by the bye, she didnot relish the allusion. I wonder what it can mean; she seemed dejectedtoo; and, now I remember, she appeared to lay particular stress upon therequisites that ensured happiness to the married state. She must alreadybe engaged, and that engagement, if I divine rightly, cannot becongenial to her spirit; there is some slight mystery that requiressolving. Dear me!" he continued, after a few moments of inertmeditation, "I can't get that girl out of my head. I can't think whatmakes me take such an interest in her affairs; it is surely no concernof mine. I must shake off the thoughts of her:" and with that amiabledetermination he commenced whistling a popular air to delude himself, while he turned to his companion, who had in the meantime stopped in hiswalk to watch his abstractedness. 

After spending some time in looking over the domestic arrangements ofthe station, the two gentlemen bent their steps to the Wombi river. Inthe course of their walk John Ferguson remarked, that he thought thepresent crossing-place did not appear a very judicious choice, and askedhis companion if a safer and more eligible spot could not be found. 

"I think not, " replied Mr. Rainsfield. "At the place where you crossedthe river it is at its widest point; and at the time I selected it, itwas the shallowest part of the stream. Then there was a sand bank rightin the bed of the river, which made a crossing quite practicable; but, since the last 'fresh' I find the sand bank is washed away, and nothingis now left in its place but a deposit of mud; so I fear nothing willimprove it now. I have had an idea for some time of putting up a bridge, if I could get any of the settlers to join me; but you see at presentthere is no one besides you and I, who would be benefitted by it; and itwould be rather too expensive an undertaking for us to perform byourselves. "

"As you say, " replied Ferguson, "at present we are the only ones thatwould be convenienced by its erection; but if we can't procure anyassistance from government, we might induce Mr. Robert Smithers to joinus: for if he has taken up all the country down the river bank for thedistance which I understand he has, it would be to his interest toafford us assistance; for a bridge over the Wombi would materiallyaffect the sale of his runs. "

"I am inclined to differ from you there, " said Mr. Rainsfield. "I don'tthink Smithers would see the advantage in the same light which you and Ido; he is perfectly aware that any one wanting the country, would bevery little influenced by the existence of a river in his way. Peopleare too well accustomed to such impediments, and, I doubt not, wouldmake a deviation of fifty miles from the direct course, by travelling upthe stream to find another crossing, rather than expend a small sum inputting up a bridge, for, what they would consider, our exclusivebenefit. And as to government assistance, you might as soon expect theaid of Jupiter. Never, until the country is settled some hundreds ofmiles further out, and they have, after repeated importunities, established a post-office somewhere beyond this, and had half thepostmen in the country drowned from swimming the river in times offlood, would they think a bridge at all necessary. If you like toaccompany me to the river I will show you a spot I have often lookedupon as a likely one for a bridge; where the banks are steep and theriver narrow. I think a log bridge could be put over at a very moderatecost, and if we can induce Bob Smithers to fall into our views (though Idoubt it), I would propose that we go about it at once. To ascertain hisinclination, however, I will write him; and if I think any good can bedone, I will myself ride over to Brompton and see him. "

The plan met with the ready concurrence of John Ferguson; and theycontinued their walk, to look at the spot to which Mr. Rainsfieldreferred; and arriving there, they stood contemplating its advantages. As Mr. Rainsfield had remarked, the banks were very steep and lofty; andthe river confined within narrow limits, ran more rapidly thanelsewhere. On the sloping banks grew some gigantic gum trees, which Mr. Rainsfield proposed felling in such a way, as to fall across the stream(which he calculated they would do); and then two or three so placed, with a flooring of smaller saplings, and a coating of earth, asubstantial, and economical structure could be erected; while with alittle labour expended in partially levelling the approaches, it wouldanswer the purposes of the most solid edifice. They both agreed that thesite was an eligible one, and offered facilities which should not beneglected; and with this belief, and determining to use some exertionsto carry out their idea, they turned to retrace their steps to thehouse; when Mr. Rainsfield drew John's attention to the forms of someaborigines, who were skulking behind the trees in the distance on theopposite side of the river. 

"Those fellows, " said he, "are all abroad; their camp is on the otherside of the Gibson, in the scrub below us; and they evidently want toget over here, to cross by 'the flats' beyond our place, instead ofswimming the river above. Bob Smithers must be out of the way, or theywould not venture a chance of falling in with him; he always keeps themoff his brother's run if he can help it; and he generally succeeds, forhe has the active management of the station, and his word is law. Ihave been obliged to follow his example lately myself, for I have beenso much troubled by their pilfering, that I have determined to keep themaway from the place. Not long ago, I caught one of them walking off withone of the men's rations, which the stupid fellow left exposed; and Igave the delinquent a charge of shot, which made him speedily relinquishhis booty, and impart to his tribe a healthy dread of the consequencesof pilfering from Strawberry Hill. Now, unfortunately, I anticipatefurther trouble with them; for the blackguards have got a ruffianamongst them who is perfectly conversant with our usages and customs;and he has assumed the chiefship of the tribe. "

"I had a visit from them myself yesterday, " replied John, "and detainedtwo of their boys on my station. I expect to be able to make use of themin many ways; and, if need be, I can keep them as hostages for the wellbehaviour of their countrymen. "

"I am afraid that you are labouring under a delusion, " said Rainsfield;"and you will find that you are adopting the very worst course youcould. By retaining those fellows on your station you will encourage theothers of the tribe to come on your run: indeed, while you detain theseboys, you will not be able to keep their friends away. And if they takeinto their heads to rob you (which in all probability they will), thetwo that you have in your service will be made by their fellows tocommunicate regular intelligence of your movements; and you will findyou have been harbouring a viper in your bosom. "

"I have already, " replied John, "been inclined to think that kindtreatment towards the blacks is better policy than harshness;conciliation is more natural than banishment; and I cannot think anyrace of savages can be so morally depraved as to commit depredations ontheir benefactors. They are far more likely to indulge in acts ofreprisal, where their evil passions are excited by cupidity, oranimated by a thirst to revenge some act of aggression or cruelty. Formy own part (and my brother agrees with me in the policy), I intend tocultivate their good feeling, by acting towards them in a kindly manner;of course with a certain degree of firmness; for I would resent any oftheir peccadillos. I am fully cognizant of their predilection forappropriation, and will take every precaution to prevent an exercise oftheir propensities; but, at the same time, I can't reconcile myself tothe idea, of visiting petty delinquencies with the severity which yourecommend. "

"Well, we shall see how you succeed, " returned his companion; "I foundfrom experience it was perfectly impossible to preserve order, andretain my property, while the black villains were permitted to overrunmy place; and I had no peace until I adopted stringent measures, and gotrid of their annoyance by expatriation. I don't believe your principleof leniency is practicable, and am convinced you will soon have cause toregret its trial, and will be brought to my way of thinking; therefore, I should strongly advise you to relinquish the idea at once, and relieveyourself of an immensity of trouble and anxiety in the future. "

"No, " replied John, "my mind is fixed; I am determined to try theworking of my plan, and am sanguine of success. It is true the blacks inthis part of the country, are wilder than those I have been accustomedto mix with; but I've very little doubt, but that I'll be able to liveon terms of amity with them, and avoid all those hostile contiguities, which we are led to expect are incidental on a residence in thisdistrict. "

"Well, " said Rainsfield, "I must confess myself sceptical of afavourable result, and only trust your experiment may not have atragical termination; for I've no faith in the aborigines: they aretreacherous in the extreme, and will commit any act of violence topossess themselves of a coveted article. I myself have known shepherdson out-stations murdered by them, for the sake of their rations, oreven a blanket, which had excited their avarice. "

"It is true, " said John, "we hear of such cases; but, in nine out often, I believe the black perpetrating the act of violence, has been onewho has been domesticated with the whites; and having been brought intocontact with the vilest of our race, and acquired all the vices whichhave been daily presented to his sight, it is not to be wondered at, that (having these constantly submitted to him for his example andemulation, and without the influence of moral obligations) he shouldperpetrate the very acts he has heard lightly treated of, or perhapsextolled. But, with the aboriginal in his native state, and without thedegrading influence of civilised immorality, you rarely, or never, meetwith such violation of the ethical and natural laws. "

"The very depravity which you have described, " replied the other, "isthe accomplishment possessed by the chief of that tribe which is ourneighbour; so you know exactly what you have to expect from him andhis. "

"I doubt not, " said John, "if the fellow is of the nature you mention, he will have sufficient cunning, and natural instinct, to perceive thata friendly intercourse with me will be more advantageous to him than aconstant warfare; for, after all, these fellows must be gifted withreasoning faculties. They must know, that where their visits arepermitted so long as they maintain their integrity, and their wants to acertain extent supplied, it is far better for them to continue thatstate of peacefulness, than by an act of aggression to forfeit theprivilege for ever. "

"I see, " said Rainsfield, "you are enthusiastically intent upon pursuingthis plan of ingratiating yourself with your sable neighbours; and Isincerely trust your good intentions may not be misdirected. "

By this time the peripatetic disquisition was terminated by the friendsreaching the house; and, entering the sitting-room, they found theladies had for some time been waiting their return. Upon an enquiry fromMrs. Rainsfield, what had detained them so long, her husband replied, "Nothing very particular, my dear; we strolled down to the Wombi to lookat a spot where a bridge could be thrown across, and Mr. Ferguson and Igot into a discussion about the blacks; and he defended them in such anable and spirited manner that the time slipped by unconsciously. Youmust know, my dear, our friend here is going to establish himself on afriendly footing with the black fellows; and I shouldn't be surprised tosee a model black settlement as the result of his moral training. "

"I commend Mr. Ferguson for his justice, " replied the lady; and turningto John, she continued, "I only wish, sir, you could induce my husbandto be of the same way of thinking; for he persists in keeping the poorcreatures aloof from the place, and I am confident they are perfectlyharmless. Before the sentence of banishment was pronounced againstthem, we found them exceedingly useful. For some time I had a young'gin' in the house as a servant, and she was quite as handy as any whiteone I ever had; besides which, she was very partial to the children, andthey were very fond of her. "

"I am delighted, my dear madam, " exclaimed our hero, "to think that myviews meet with your approval; and I have no doubt that when I provetheir practicability, I shall be enabled to induce your husband to adoptthem. " With this remark he turned to Miss Rainsfield, and met hergaze, which was fixed upon his features with a smile of approval. Shehastily removed her eyes, when she perceived John had noticed her; butnot before the momentary glance had penetrated his heart, and renderedhim thoughtful and abstracted for the remainder of the evening. 

CHAPTER VII. 

 "In joyous youth, what soul hath never known, Thought, feeling, taste, harmonious to its own? Who hath not paused while Beauty's pensive eye Asked from his heart the homage of a sigh?"

 CAMPBELL. 

Another day had passed, and a third had shed its light on StrawberryHill, and still John Ferguson lingered there. It is true the inmates ofthe house pressed him to stay; but it required little pressing to inducehim to continue a visit which was so grateful and congenial to hiswishes. He had spent long hours in the society of the ladies, and hadrambled with them through the shades of the bush. He was irresistiblyspell-bound to the spot, though he professed to himself utter ignoranceof any retentive influence. Despite his repeated personal assurancesthat he had no amative object or gratification in his partiality for thesociety of his new-made friends, it must be admitted that the presenceand companionship of Miss Rainsfield had more attractions for him thanhe pretended to admit; though the fact that his heart was a littleinterested in the matter at last began to dawn upon his mind. It was infact almost impossible for any man, whose affections were notpre-engaged, to live in the enjoyment of a contiguity with such acreature as Eleanor Rainsfield without feeling deeply the fascination ofher cultivated mind, her charming person, and graceful unaffectedmanner. How much more susceptible of a loving impress, then, must havebeen the mind of John Ferguson, who retaining nature's freshness itself, at once perceived a kindred spirit in the fair cousin of Mr. Rainsfield. 

On the other hand, the charming girl herself--young and inexperienced, early deprived of the guiding influence of her fond parents, and seldommixing in society--had very rare opportunities of forming any opinion ofthe world or its motives; and knew not the accomplished art ofdissembling her feelings, when the ice of her outward reserve had beenonce broken. The conversation and ingenuous manner of her companionpleased her, and she took an interest and pleasure in his society, whichshe had no idea of concealing. What her feelings were, at this period ofher acquaintance with Ferguson, it were difficult to surmise; but, inall probability they were embraced in a friendly regard for him, whosemind and character she intuitively esteemed: a species of admiration, engendering a confidence in their friendly intercourse; and which in thebreast of a young girl, actuated solely by the spontaneous actions ofher own feelings, tends more than anything to beget a feeling ofaffection for the man who thus engrosses her attention. There isperhaps no friendship which produces so fond a recollection as this;and no feeling so likely to favourably impress a youthful andardent-minded creature as that which induces her to pour her thoughts, without restraint, into the ear of him with whom she converses; eventhough they be the merest platitudes. That confidence, with which she isled on to unveil her soul, carries with it a regard which is indeliblyimpressed on her mind; and such was the feeling with which Eleanorregarded John Ferguson, though she too was unacquainted with thepresence of any sentiment other than mere friendship; but we areanticipating. 

As we have said, time was not stationary at Strawberry Hill, nor on theroad; for on the day our narrative continues with, Tom Rainsfield madehis appearance, with the intelligence that he had only a short timepreviously left William Ferguson on the road with his sheep; so that hemight be expected to be at the crossing-place on the Wombi, within anhour or so. Tom was instantly introduced to John Ferguson; andvolunteered, as soon as he had satisfied the calls of hunger, to returnwith him to the river, and assist in getting the sheep over. 

The offer was thankfully declined by John, who assured the other, thathe and his brother, with the assistance of their men, were perfectlyadequate to the task; but it was generously persisted in by youngRainsfield; and, in a short time afterwards, the two were to be seenbending their steps to the crossing-place, which they reached about thesame time that William and his flocks slowly wended their way to theriver. 

We have stated, at the first mention of his name to the reader, that TomRainsfield was a fine generous-minded young fellow. At the time of hisarrival at Strawberry Hill, he had just finished a long equestrianjourney, and was necessarily tired and fatigued; so that the readinesswith which he proffered his assistance to the Fergusons was an instanceof kindness, and an obliging disposition, which was his generalcharacter. He was dressed in the usual bush costume, viz, jumper, breeches and belt, riding boots, spurs, and cabbage-tree hat; and in hisfrank open countenance could at once be read the genuineness of hisfriendship. He was in truth a noble fellow; high-spirited andwarm-hearted; bold and daring, though, perhaps, a little thoughtless andimpetuous. His figure, though not decidedly tall, was of a good height, light and elegantly formed, and altogether was such as would command theadmiration of the fair sex; while the facile freedom of his speech, theeasy grace of his manners, and his gentlemanly bearing, were sufficientto insure the respect of his fellows, and to establish, on a lastingfooting, the esteem of his friends. 

During their short walk from the house the two young men had naturallyfallen into conversation, and had, even in that limited period, becomemutually attached to each other. 

"I overtook your brother on the road, " said Tom, in the continuation ofa dialogue, "and, knowing it could be none other than he, I introducedmyself, and we knew one another at once. He is a fine fellow, and justmy style. If you don't favour us much with your company at our place Ipromise you you shall have enough of me at yours; for your brother and Iwill be sworn friends. He tells me, too, that he expects his sister iscoming to place herself under your bachelor protection: is such thecase? You have said nothing about it up at the Hill, or I think theywould have told me. "

"I made no mention of the circumstance, " replied John, "to either yourbrother or his lady, as, as yet, it is by no means decided upon; for myown part, I hardly like the idea of bringing the poor girl out to thisremote part of the country. I should prefer seeing it a little moresettled first, though my brother William is madly anxious to get her outwith us; she herself, I think, could be easily influenced either the oneway or the other. "

"Then by all means let her join you, " cried Tom; "give William his way, and us the pleasure of knowing her. If there is any hesitation on yourpart, I will enlist the services of our women folk; and if they don'ttease you into compliance before a month is over, it is a caution. Why, they'll be madly hilarious, when they hear the bare mention of such ascheme; they surely can't be aware of the fact of your possessing such atreasure as a sister, or I am sure they would be on to you at once toinduce a visit from her. "

"Under any circumstances, it will require some delay, " replied John; "aswe could not think of getting her to join us, until we had establishedsome comfortable home to bring her to; and I fear it will be aconsiderable time ere that can be accomplished. "

"That's easily managed, " returned Tom. "Never mind your house; she cancome on a visit to us until you get your place ready. I am sure ourfolks will be delighted to have her company. Eleanor will be a verysuitable companion for her; and I am sure she will be an acquisition toEleanor, who sadly wants a lively companion of her own age. I amconfident your sister would dispel much of our cousin's settledmelancholy, and make her see the sacrifice she is contemplating. "

"I have no doubt the girls would suit each other admirably, " repliedJohn; "and if I think myself justified in asking my sister, and she canbe persuaded to come out here, I doubt not they will soon becomefriends; but may I ask to what you allude by your cousin's sacrifice?"

"Simply marriage to one to whom she considers herself engaged, " saidTom, "while, in my opinion, it is perfect folly; she is absolutelythrowing herself away. I cannot bring myself to think she entertains anyliking for the man, for I don't believe any intellectual woman coulddiscover anything in him worthy of esteem. You are acquainted with him, though no doubt his character is better known to me than to you, for Ihave had more opportunities of observing it. It is Bob Smithers; andshe has consented to marry him through the importunities of hissister-in-law. It appears Mrs. Smithers was an intimate friend ofEleanor's mother, and used to joke Eleanor about Bob; who, when ayounger man, and when my cousin was a mere child, used to beparticularly attentive to her; so, amongst them, a match was made upbetween the two. Since then Eleanor has seen very little of herbetrothed; but his assiduous advocate, his sister-in-law, has continuedto press his suit; and obtained from Eleanor a renewal of her pledge. Infact, the poor girl has been absolutely cajoled into an acceptance, asmuch from an ignorance of Bob's character, and a desire to gratify hermother's friend, as from any feelings of her own. I will do Mrs. Smithers the justice to say, I believe she does not know the extent ofher brother-in-law's vileness; and that what she considers his littleweaknesses, will be effectually rectified by a union with our Eleanor;but I don't like to see the poor girl sacrificed, and have a good mindto save her (if she would take me) by proposing to her myself; though Ibelieve she thinks her word irrevocable, and will submit to Bob's claimas the fulfilment of a duty. I believe Smithers intends pushing his suitshortly himself; for when he disposes of another block or two of hiscountry, he intends stocking the remainder of his runs with the proceedsof what he has sold, and settling down for himself. However, it willtake him some little time before he can complete his plans, and if I canprevent his marrying Eleanor I will do so. "

Tom Rainsfield continued conversing, or audibly soliloquizing in thisstrain, without noticing the abstraction into which his companion hadfallen; and might have prolonged, even for an hour, his declamationagainst Bob Smithers, had not the current of his thoughts been arrested, and John Ferguson aroused from his reverie, by their being hailed fromthe opposite bank by William, who had arrived with the sheep. 

This was the signal for animation; and for hours all the party werebusily engaged effecting a passage of the stream with the ovine mass;while the sun had just began to dip on the horizon, as the last of theanimals passed the fluvial barrier. 

"Now, " said Tom, as he gazed upon the assembled flock on the Wombi'sbank, "you had better let the men camp here with the sheep for thenight, and you and William come up and spend the evening, and stop thenight with us. "

To this advice, however, there was one dissenting voice, and that voicewas John's. He had, within the previous hour, lost the interest he hadbefore experienced in a visit to Strawberry Hill; or rather, he nowwished to avoid the place altogether. And yet his heart yearned for oneof the residents; he desired to bask in the inspiring smile of hisspirit's charmer; he felt a longing to gaze once more into the face ofEleanor Rainsfield, and read in her eyes, either the confirmation ofhis fears, or the entire repudiation of any such engagement as thatmentioned by her cousin. Alas, poor John! he was hopelessly enthralledin Cupid's bondage, and he felt it; though his calmer judgment whisperedto him an indulgence of such a sentiment was selfish and useless. Ifsuch an attachment, or even engagement (he thought to himself), didexist, and of that, from his friend's affirmation, he had no doubt, itmust have been entered into with her consent, and evident approval; forby her cousin's account she was immovable, even to his entreaty; why, therefore, should he, almost a stranger, attempt to interpose himselfbetween her and her evident inclination? Such were the thoughts thatcontended in his mind, when he wished to avoid the Hill, and take hisdeparture at once with the sheep for his own station. 

His brother, however, was differently disposed; he had travelled a longdistance, and was pretty tired of his vocation; he knew that the animalscould not travel much further that day, and if they proceeded anothertwo or three miles they would have to halt just the same; while nothingwould be gained, but the probability of having to camp with them. So, bushman though he was, he preferred comfortable quarters for the night, to a stretcher beside a camp fire. He therefore raised his voice againsthis brother's objection; and John was thus out-voted in the conclave, and compelled to submit to the over-ruling of his companions. They, therefore, made arrangements for the halt; informing their men that theywould be with them on the morning by daylight; and then joined theirfriend, and sauntered towards the house. 

From Tom the ladies soon learnt the scheme of the brothers with regardto their sister, and were importunate in their entreaties to hurry herarrival. John Ferguson, who had not recovered the despondency thecommunication of Tom had thrown him into, was quite bewildered with thebadinage that was directed to him from all quarters during the evening, for his reluctance in bringing his sister out to the station. Mrs. Rainsfield affirmed that it was because he was such a confirmedbachelor, he could not bear the thought of being under a lady'sdominion, even though it were his sister; while Tom declared his beliefthat Mr. Ferguson was afraid of presenting her, for fear that he, Tom, would effect a reprisal, and walk off with her. Even as it was, he said, he would not answer for himself; if Miss Ferguson was as charming as hefully anticipated she would prove, he thought he would enter into acompact with her brothers and secure her at once. 

All this raillery and playfulness, was little heeded by John Ferguson, who remained particularly abstracted; so much so, that it becamedistinctly discernible, and the loquacity of his friends graduallysubdued. As the conversation began to slacken, Miss Rainsfield raisedher eyes from her work, and addressing their taciturn visitor in thesweetest possible voice, asked him if he would not allow his sister toremain on a visit with them for a short time, before she fixed her abodewith her brothers; so as to give her an opportunity of settling herselfin her new home, making her acquaintance with her neighbours, andaffording them the pleasure of her society. 

John was roused to consciousness by this appeal, and replied that hewould be most happy to be the means of his sister cultivating andenjoying their friendship; but that if she made up her mind to live withher brothers at Fern Vale, she would be her own mistress, and haveentire control over her own actions; so that the acceptance andprolongation of any visit would in a great measure depend upon her ownwhim. He said, however, from what he knew of her disposition, he had nodoubt she would far prefer the agreeable society of such friends as Mrs. And Miss Rainsfield, to the dull monotony of a guardianship of twobachelor brothers. 

The conversation, after this episode, brightened, and was continued ina pleasing strain for the remainder of the evening. 

On the following morning, true to their word, the young men took theirdeparture, and reached their station without the occurrence of an eventworth recording; and for the next two or three days, they were fullyoccupied in the settlement of matters at Fern Vale. In the midst of aroutine of business, John Ferguson had little time to think of mattersrelating to his feelings; but when the first bustle succeeded toleisure, his thoughts of Eleanor returned with redoubled force. He wouldthen picture to his imagination her expressive features; he would dreamof her abstractedly by day, and her form was the subject of his visionsby night; and yet, though he thought her personal charms the perfectionof frail humanity, his admiration was not so much for the outward fane, as the spirit that held dominion within. It is true his attention hadbeen first arrested by her beauty; but the cause of those afterfeelings, which now consumed his soul, was the constant contemplationof her gentleness, amiability, mental accomplishments, and pureunsullied spirit. These were they which won his love, and secured hisheart in a hopeless thraldom. In its empire he had established onesovereign, who was supreme, and that sovereign was Eleanor; his soul hadbut one idol, and the deity of this feticism was Eleanor; his mind hadraised one standard of human perfection, and the motto of that standard, the excelsior of his fate, was Eleanor. The spirit of Eleanor was inevery bush; her face smiled down upon him from every tree; the verybirds seemed for the time, in his presence, to forget their naturalutterance, and screamed in various tones of dissonance the name ofEleanor. And yet (he would think in his musings) this prize was not tobe his; she was the cherished of another, to whom she had pledged herlove. What then was left for him? Why should he entertain one thought ofher? It was clear the possession of this treasure was never for him;then why should he allow her to retain dominion in his mind?

These mental interrogations he could not answer to his own satisfaction. He attempted to argue himself into a belief that he was mistaken in hisfeelings towards her; that she was not, in fact, the beacon towardswhich all his hopes were directed; but the sophistry failed to offerconsolation to his wounded spirit, and he felt that he could not banishher from his thoughts: the task was hopeless. 

Weeks passed away thus, without the occurrence of any event speciallyworth chronicling. Tom Rainsfield and William Ferguson had becomeinseparable friends, and were constantly together, either at the onestation or the other; while John's visits to his neighbouring friendswere short, and at remote intervals. His manner had become thoughtfuland grave, and had not failed to attract the notice of his friends, fromits contrast to his usual character. Shearing had commenced; and hismind, from the constant diversion of his thoughts, had partiallyrecovered its wonted elasticity. His sister had expressed herwillingness to join her brothers; and the dray having arrived from Alma, with the necessary materials to complete their dwelling, John hadhurried on the carpenters with their work. 

It was determined by the Fergusons that the dray then on the station, should go down to town with the first load of their wool; and thatWilliam should follow it, and procure furniture and other necessariesfor it to return with. He was then to proceed to his father's house, take up his sister, bring her round to the station by way of Mr. Dawson's, and leave her at Strawberry Hill for a week or two, until thehouse at Fern Vale was ready for her reception. These variousarrangements being completed; such as the despatch of the dray, theacquaintance of Mr. Ferguson at Acacia Creek of their plans, and thearrival of the other dray with supplies; William took his departure;and John, after he had despatched a second load of wool, rode over toStrawberry Hill to make a personal delivery of the salt he had borrowedfrom Mr. Rainsfield. 

It had been some time since John Ferguson had paid his respects atStrawberry Hill, and his visit on this occasion was hailed with nolittle surprise, and possibly with a good deal of pleasure by more thanone member of the family. Mrs. Rainsfield was particular in herenquiries, as to the cause of his continuing to seclude himself, andanxiously inquisitive for a solution of his mysterious melancholy. Eleanor was unaltered, either in personal appearance or her mannertowards him; she entertained the same admiration, and though her heartwhispered to her suspicions, that she was in some way connected with hisdejection, she had no idea of the extent of his feelings' ravishment. Atthe same time she did not deem any secresy of her admiration essentialto a compatibility with modesty. She found pleasure in the society ofJohn Ferguson; liked his manner and person; and therefore threw into herreception of him, when they met, a warmth and cordiality, which, thoughonly expressive of her own pure friendship, filled with ecstatic glowthe very blood of her enraptured lover. She was, in fact, thoughunconsciously to herself, with the spirit she was investing in the mereexercise of common-place formalities, creating, or rather strengthening, a feeling in the breast of John Ferguson, which never could beeradicated; but which would, of a certainty, consume his life andspirits, if he were not blessed with a reciprocal attachment. 

In the present interview, however, Eleanor did not join with the lady ofthe house in her playful badinage; indeed, it was not her usual manner;but she had eyes, and those eyes (differing from the followers of Mr. Irving) spoke in no unknown tongue, at least to John; to him they hadthe power of communicating in many languages, so that when she gave hima look, in which was embodied all she wished to convey, its meaning wasinstantly and rightly interpreted by our hero. If we were called upon todescribe in words the tumultuous ragings of those elements that cleavethe very mountains, lay prostrate the gigantic denizens of the forest, and make the earth tremble with the power of their agitation; if we wererequired to depict the falling avalanche, that sweeps in its course allvestiges of vitality from the face of the earth; or to form an adequateconception of the occult ramifications of the electric fluid, which isat man's pleasure made to compass the globe with the quickness ofthought, we would confess ourselves incompetent. Equally so are we todescribe the glance of a woman. Some looks there are, however, which, though inexplicable to uninitiated spectators, to those who cherish evena corruscation of mental light, speak volumes of information; and suchit was that Eleanor cast upon John Ferguson. What was conveyed in thatlook we will not pretend to fathom; but simply affirm that its effectwas an entire derangement of the love-sick swain's determination toforget the cause of his wretchedness, and a dispersion of every ideasave the one ruling sentiment of love for her. Thus, in a moment, discretion was forgotten, and resolution cast to the wind; and heblindly satiated himself with deep draughts of love's ambrosia, withouta moment's contemplation of the remote chances, or absoluteimpossibility of his ever possessing the fountain source. 

Eve's fair daughters have always an eye for the discernment andevolution of love's mysterious workings; and often detect the existenceof the tender passion, where the percipiency of their lords' mentalpenetralia fails to enlighten them on its presence. Hence, while Mr. Rainsfield never dreamed of John Ferguson being a rival of Smithers forthe hand of Eleanor, and before she herself even thoroughly knew it, hisweaker half had made the discovery with considerable delight andcommunicated the knowledge to her spouse. 

By him the news was received in a far different spirit than was expectedby his wife; and he at once remarked that he would take an immediateopportunity of warning his young friend against entertaining any feelingbeyond friendship for Eleanor. He reminded his wife that the girl hadvoluntarily engaged herself to Smithers, and would therefore marry him;consequently, there was no use torturing Ferguson, by allowing him tocherish hopes which were not destined to be fulfilled. 

"But why should they not be?" replied his wife: "I am certain he lovesEleanor, and am pretty sure that Eleanor loves him. That she does notentertain any such feeling for Smithers I am confident; she has beenforced, more than otherwise, into that engagement with him, and the verythought of attaching herself to him for life is making her wretched. Ifyou took the trouble to notice her, you would perceive with whatpleasure she receives the attention of Mr. Ferguson; and I am convincedhe has only to declare himself to receive an unqualified consent. "

"Well, I beg you will not mention the subject to her, " said Rainsfield;"so long as she remains engaged to Bob Smithers you surely do not intendto argue that it is proper for her to receive the attention of anotheradmirer. If she refuses Smithers, then I can see no objection to herfavouring the suit of our neighbour; but until then it were only madnessto give Ferguson any encouragement. I shall warn him of his danger atonce, and again request you to maintain silence to Eleanor on thesubject. "

"For my part, " persisted the lady, "I don't think Smithers is entitledto such consideration: he rarely or never visits Eleanor; he shows herno attention; and takes it for granted his claims are indisputable, andthat she is ready to accept him whenever it is his convenience to takeher. If Eleanor had the slightest spirit in her nature she would scornsuch a man; and I think it is entirely a false notion of rectitude thatmakes her adhere to the engagement. "

"It may be in opposition to her happiness, my dear, " replied herhusband, "but it cannot be a false notion of rectitude, as you call it;it is rather rectitude in the strictest sense. She has been induced toaccept Mr. Smithers, and to ratify it on more than one occasion;consequently, it is not for us to judge, whether she will be happy ornot in such a connexion, but to leave her to her own free will andjudgment; therefore, I say again, while this engagement exists, it isnot right to allow young Ferguson to imagine he has any chance ofacceptance. "

"But I know he would not be refused, " replied Mrs. Rainsfield. 

"Dear me!" exclaimed the husband, "it is wonderful how you women willpersevere in a cause that you interest yourselves in. There is no use inyour reiterating that expression, however; for I tell you again, thatJohn Ferguson must be cautioned against allowing himself to be carriedaway by his feelings; and I am confident, that when I point out to himthe nature of his position, his good sense will enable him to see itsuntenableness, and cause him to desist from any pointed attentions. "

Mrs. Rainsfield was a dutiful wife, and, however much against her owninclinations, she submitted to her husband's wishes; though she left hispresence grieved and disappointed. She well knew that a match betweenEleanor and Smithers would prove unhappy; while she was as fully certainthat a union with John Ferguson would be as felicitous as any humanconnexion could be. We will not say that the spirit of match-making, inherent in the nature of all matrons, was wounded at its defeat;although she certainly cherished the idea of bringing the two youngpeople together, it was not so much with the mere wish to be the meansof accomplishing a ceremony, as to see them happy. For she had asincere desire for the welfare of Eleanor, for whom she felt acompassion on account of her dependent condition, and an attachment forher virtues and affectionate manner to herself; besides the esteem, wehave already said, she felt for our hero. She, however, determined, without a violation of her husband's commands, to sound Eleanor upon thesubject of her engagement with Smithers; and if she perceived anydisposition to break off on her part, to give John a hint of theprobability of his success, if he renewed his suit. 

In the meantime, Mr. Rainsfield took the opportunity of which he spoketo his wife, and communicated to John the utter hopelessness of hispersevering in his attentions to the young lady; informing him that heraffections were already engaged; and recommended him, for his own peaceof mind, that he should banish all thoughts of an amative nature. Mr. Rainsfield further remarked, that he felt himself in justice bound togive his friend that caution, before he allowed any warm feeling totake a firm possession of his heart; at the same time, he assured himtheir conversation was unknown to the lady herself, as was also, so hehad reason to believe, the state of his feelings towards her. Therefore, John need not consider the annihilation of his hopes of obtaining herhand, a decree of banishment from Strawberry Hill. 

Before the conclusion of this little exordium John had become perfectlyunconscious; and, at its termination, mechanically shook the hand of hisinterlocutor, while he took his departure. All the communication that hecould comprehend, was, that it was intended to dispel all the brightillusions love's fancy had conjured in his mind. All his momentaryvisions of prospective happiness were swept away, like the misty canopyof the mountain before the morning breeze. His ariel palaces ofimaginative grandeur, lay shattered at his feet; and he stood like thelast of a defeated host, viewing destruction and desolation around him. His fondest hopes were blighted; he felt as one robbed of his very soul;he was wretched and dejected, and turned from the spot with the feelingsof an outcast, an alien; or as a once powerful courtier, removed fromthe presence of his sovereign, to a perpetual expatriation. StrawberryHill had for ever lost its interest to him; the only treasure itcontained held out no prospect of possession. In his heart there was ablank, which nothing short of his idol could fill; but it was empty, andseared; and vacant was his mind, and miserable his feelings, as heleisurely journeyed on his way to Fern Vale. They were, in fact, such ascan be better imagined than described; and when he reached his station, and delivered his horse to one of his men in silence, he went about hisusual vocations as one almost destitute of reason. 

What the feelings of the lady most concerned were, had they beenconsulted, we can well understand; but we must refrain from indulging inanticipations. The manner of John's leave-taking, had struck, with nolittle amazement, all those who saw him. Mrs. Rainsfield was the one, who, conjecturing its cause, could best appreciate his feelings; shepitied him, and secretly determined, that if he and Eleanor were to befor ever separated, it should not be for want of strategy on her part. She felt that not only his happiness, but the girl's too, depended upontheir union; and she considered her husband had taken too strict anotion of the engagement with Smithers, who, she believed, thought verylittle of it: therefore, Mrs. Rainsfield concluded, very littlemanoeuvring would break it off; and so determined to devote herenergies to such a consummation. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

 "Pray if you know Where in the purlieus of this forest stands A sheep cote?"

 AS YOU LIKE IT, _Act_ 4, _Sc. _ 3. 

That portion of the year to which we now bring our narrative is, withoutexception, the finest period of Australian seasons; when the temperatureis the _acme_ of salubrity, and the climate, generally, as delightful ascan be imagined. We speak of the spring when merging into the earlysummer, and when the cool freshness of the morning breeze tempers thegenial warmth of the mid-day sun; which had acquired just sufficientstrength in his rays to impart a pleasant heat without oppressiveness. On such a morning, then, when the vast concave of the heavens, expandedin a perfectly spotless azure sky (such as in our foggy isle is neverseen); and with the freshness of the bush developing its verdure in theodorous exudations of floriferous plants, and the blithesome exuberanceof the songless denizens of nature's nemoral aviary; William took hisdeparture on the mission we have detailed in the last chapter. 

He journeyed on for days, singly but not lonely; for his heart wasinspired by the lambent fragrance of nature's smile; and he felt not thesolitude of the road, as he travelled over the vast expanse of theDarling Downs. He had traversed this vast table-land, and wasapproaching its eastern margin, where the descent was to be made to thecoast country, when he began to experience an oppressiveness in theatmosphere, which he knew portended a storm. He, however, continued hiscourse, though, indeed, he had no option, until, as the sun wasapproaching the meridian, he entered the deep gorge called Cunningham'sGap, through which the road passed to the low country, and lookedanxiously at the lowering aspect of the sky. He felt he might make uphis mind for a drenching in the approaching storm, which he perceivedwould soon burst over his head; and only exerted himself to get through"the Gap" into open land, before it commenced. 

Cunningham's Gap, or, as for the sake of brevity it is generally called, "the Gap, " is situated between fifty and sixty miles from the coast; andis, as its name would imply, a defile in the mountains, affording aconvenient passage through the "main range;" or more properly speaking, a descent from the table-land of the Darling Downs to the country below. The descent effected by this pass is between two and three thousandfeet; and the view obtained in the passage of the low lying country isbeautiful in the extreme. The gorge itself is one of those combinationsof the picturesque and sublime with the useful; and viewed as aspecimen of scenery, it is surpassingly grand. Looking at it in itsascent, where its two stupendous sides raise their gigantic masses inrocky precipices, upwards of two thousand feet high; which seem to frownupon the bold traveller who ventures within their cavernous precincts;one cannot contemplate the vast fissure other than as the work of abeneficent providence, as a gateway in the otherwise insurmountable"range. "

William Ferguson had entered the "Gap, " and was riding down thedeclivity at a rapid rate, when the sky became still more overcast, andthe clouds gathered in quick succession; while the low fulminating ofthe distant thunder, and the death-like stillness of the defile, indicated the speedy approach of the storm, and imparted a solemnity tothe scene. The thunder became more distinct. The lightning flashed invivid darts, which seemed to play along the sides of the pass, until theattractive adamant deviated the refrangible fluid; which then burieditself in some deep crevice of the pendent rocks. A few heavy drops ofrain then fell to the earth, and were speedily succeeded by a deluge, which was driven on the face of a tempest almost irresistible. Still onsped the rider almost carried on the wings of the storm; until he wasrelieved from any pressing anxiety by emerging on the plain; while theelemental warfare raged with unabated fury. 

William, now relieved from apprehension, proceeded leisurely on theroad, which he had to travel for some miles until he reached an inn;but, as he began to feel extremely uncomfortable, to sooner reach theshelter of a roof, he determined to accelerate his speed. With thisintention, he clapped spurs to his horse and went off at a sharp pace, until he came to a track that emerged at an acute angle from the road. At this spot he hesitated for a moment; but, believing it to be the roadleading to Rosehall, the station of a gentleman with whom he wasdistantly acquainted; and as night would be shortly closing in, whilehe had a long distance to go before he reached the inn; he decided uponintruding on the hospitality of his friend. He therefore turned hishorse's head into the path, and rode off again at a brisk pace. As heproceeded, however, the road became somewhat indistinct; and at last allappearance of a track vanished; leaving our friend involved in the bushwithout the semblance of a path, or appearance of any habitation in thevicinity. By this time William discovered his mistake in taking thispath (which appeared only to be a bullock track) for the road toRosehall; and his only alternative was to find his way back again to theroad he had left. To do this, however, he did not fancy retracing hissteps; and, there being very little time for speculation, he determinedto make a short cut through the bush in the direction he knew the mainroad must run. 

His resolution was soon formed, and as speedily acted upon; for the ideano sooner entered his mind than he plunged into the bush without anyfurther consideration; and continued his course until his progress wasstopped by the intervention of a seemingly impenetrable scrub. The sightof this impediment by no means tended to animate him with pleasant oramiable feelings; for he knew, if he was compelled to deviate from hiscourse, his chance of reaching the road before night would be veryremote; and, if he did not succeed in doing that, he saw no option butto make a nocturnal sojourn in the bush; the idea of which, all thingsconsidered, he did not much like. To extricate himself from thisdifficulty, he skirted the scrub, both up and down, for an openingthrough which to penetrate; until at last he perceived an aperture, intowhich he darted, though only to find after a short progress, a stillfurther stoppage; and this time one of a more unpleasant nature. 

At his feet ran a creek, swollen by the rains into a deep and rapidstream. To skirt its banks, to ascertain the direction in which itflowed, was impossible; for, with the exception of the spot on which hestood (and where it seemed broader and shallower than elsewhere), it waslined by the scrub. Beyond the stream was the direction he wished to goto reach the road, but this fluvial barrier stopped his progress; and hesaw no other course, if he wished to attain his goal, than to swim theflood. For a few moments he gazed upon the dark waters of the creek, asthey hurried on their turbid volume sullenly and quietly; and knew thatto cross them, he had to swim a current that might prove too strong forhim to stem; besides the numerous eddies and hidden dangers that theymight contain. His heart had some misgivings at the venture;nevertheless, he was aware, if he was to reach shelter that night, thepassage of the creek had to be effected. The momentary sensation of feargave place to the excitement of braving hazard; and its danger wasspeedily forgotten in the contemplation of a night's bivouac under atree; and with the consciousness of being a good swimmer, and afamiliarity with such predicaments, he rode his horse to the edge of thestream, and urged him into it. 

Often do the instincts of the lower animals prompt them to an avoidanceof danger, where the rasher nature of man impels him towards his doom. For some time the animal which William rode--standing on the margin ofthe water, with his nose close to it, seemingly to ascertain the natureof the element into which his master wished him to plunge--snorted andpaced the ground with a degree of impatience, that plainly showed he didnot like the task required of him. He was not long, however, permittedto hesitate; there was no escape from the passage; the creek had to becrossed, while no other way presented itself but to swim; so, upon afresh admonition from his rider, the animal entered the water, andgallantly breasted the stream. 

As the horse took the flood, William quietly slid off the saddle intothe water, and keeping a hold of one of the stirrups, easily swam byhis side. The noble animal, in a case like this, required no guidinghand to direct him; his instinct told him, his master's object was toreach the other bank; and he, therefore, swam direct for the pointdesired. For a few seconds the quadruped and his owner kept on "the eventenor of their way, " and William congratulated himself on the favourableprospect of his crossing; until they got more into the force of thecurrent, when he found it almost overwhelming. He, however, struggledhard; while, alternately, he was almost swept from his hold by the forceof the stream, and nearly separated from his trusty steed by the vortexof an eddy. But these difficulties were trifling compared to the onethat awaited him. 

He had reached about the middle of the creek, when he perceived, withconsternation, the immense trunk of a tree floating down the stream, with all the fearful velocity of the current; and in an instant his mindcomprehended the danger of his perilous position. The tree was one, evidently, which had been long lying on the bank of the creek; and hadbeen dislodged, and carried off, as the water had risen in the presentflood. From its long recubation, it had become divested of its bark, foliage, and smaller branches; leaving only its knarled trunk andconcomitant adjuncts, its crural like limbs. As it approached theswimmers, it presented nothing to view, but the long surface of itstrunk, which floated supinely in the water; at the same time rushing onwith irresistible force, and having its branches concealed beneath thesurface of the flood. The stout heart of young Ferguson almost sickenedat the sight; however, he braced his nerves for a struggle, and urgedhis faithful horse to its utmost, to escape the proximity of theirdangerous neighbour. 

On it came, closer and closer, still watched by the anxious eye ofWilliam; until he thought (as it almost reached him, angrily muttering, with the subdued murmur of the flood, its disappointed expectations of avictim) that he was safe. But his self-gratulation, at this moment, wasvery inopportune; for, just as he uttered an exclamation of thankfulnessat his supposed escape, the tree approached the broad and shallower partof the creek; when, suddenly throwing its upper end into the air with aconvulsive leap, it threatened utter destruction to the two devoted andstruggling objects in the water. For a moment it seemed poised; but, losing its equilibrium, it fell obliquely into the stream, coveringWilliam and his horse with the blinding spray; and before they couldregain their sight, the huge mass swang round with the current, andentirely submerging them, swept them off with the flood, as they werealmost reaching the bank. 

The cause of this grotesque manoeuvre on the part of the tree, we willhere explain. In approaching the broader and, consequently, shallowerpart of the stream, its course had been arrested, by one of its sunkenbranches coming in contact, and burying itself, in the soft bed of thecreek. The log, therefore, with the impetus it had gained in itstransit, thus suddenly brought to a stand, momentarily reared its head;but almost instantly losing its equipoise, fell again sideways into thestream; while the branch being still imbedded in the soft mud of thebottom, the trunk naturally described a circle; and to all appearancesannihilated William and his horse. 

Some time after this, how long he had not a remote idea, William, uponreturning to consciousness, found himself stretched upon the bank of thecreek; while the shades of night were fast closing in around him. Whathe had experienced he shuddered to think of; though every circumstanceattending his late danger, and providential escape, segregated itselffrom the chaotic mass in his brain, and laid before him a panorama ofhis ordeal. In his mind, he had distinct visions, of having been, as itwere, grasped with a rough hand by the watery element, and drawn by thedemon of the flood to the depths of his cavernous home; while thehissing of the water, which seemed to him at the time to rush into hisvery soul, still sounded in his ears. To the fearful sensation ofoppression and smothering that first weighed in his heart, succeeded acalm and tranquil sleep; from which he was aroused, by a repetition ofthe noises of rushing waters in his ears; and the sensation of thehorrors of a mundane dissolution filled his mind. At that moment, hishead came in violent contact with some object; which, on the impulse ofthe moment, he clutched with a drowning grasp; while with the friendlyaid of the pendent branch of a tree, he had an indistinct recollectionof drawing himself from the water, and alighting on the ground; where hesank in a state of utter insensibility. How long he remained in thatstate, he was unable to conjecture; but he awoke with a feeling ofsickness, which weighed heavily on his heart; and with his limbsperfectly benumbed and almost paralysed (thankful for the manifestinterposition of providence), with a painful effort he arose. He thenwent to search for his horse, to see if the faithful animal had been asfortunate as himself; and had not proceeded far ere he espied him, stillstanding trembling from the fear, from which he had hardly recovered. 

To reach the inn that night was hopeless; in fact, to proceed at all, William felt was almost impossible, for both he and his horse wereperfectly knocked up; while he was so unnerved and dispirited, that hehardly knew which way to turn. To remain where he was, however, was notto be thought of; for setting aside the discomfort of his position, thedanger was imminent. The rain continued to fall in a deluge, and theland on which he stood being low, if the creek rose much more (which wasvery probable), the flat would be soon covered with water. He had noalternative, then, but to drag on his weary limbs, and lead his worn-outhorse, to either some hospitable shelter, or a more auspicious localityto camp in. Before resuming his journey, he gave two or threevociferous "cooeys, " but without hearing any answering sound, save theecho of his own voice. He then crawled along, in the direction which heimagined the road must be in, in the hope of falling in with somecheering prospect; but after toiling for about half an hour, theconsternation with which he witnessed the effectual stoppage of hisfurther progress, by another stream, fairly overcame him; and he sankexhausted to the ground. 

The sagacious animal, that had borne the young man through many adifficulty, and who stood over the prostrate body of his master, showedhis concern for him by many little signs of emotion, and at last broughtWilliam to an application of his energies, by causing him to notice hismovements. William then raised his languid frame; and with droopingspirits, gazed on the fresh obstacle before him. He perceived it had acurrent, running opposite to that which he had lately crossed; and thenthe truth flashed across his mind, that it must be another bend of thesame creek, forming a pocket of the land on which he was standing. Henow perceived that, by a slight deviation from his course, he might haveavoided the crossing which had nearly cost him his life; though now itwas evident, to reach his destination, he would have to cross it again. Not wishing, however, to risk his life a second time in so short aninterval; and feeling himself perfectly inadequate to the task, even ifhe desired it; he determined to follow the creek up its course, in thehope of meeting with shelter of some sort. He therefore resumed hisweary travelling, skirting the bank of the stream; and occasionally"cooeying, " to ascertain if any human being was within hearing. 

Thus he had proceeded for some time, perfectly disheartened and almostdesponding, when he espied on a little knoll, a short distance from thecreek, a small slab hut. Humble and untenable as the refuge appeared, noshipwrecked mariner, with the prospect of being rescued from a waterygrave, by the opportune assistance of some life-boat, did ever hail hisdeliverance with greater joy and gratitude, than did William the sightof this "humpie. " It looked uninhabited and perfectly deserted; butstill, wretched as it appeared, it promised shelter for himself and hisbeast; and would enable him in all probability to make a fire andrefresh his weary limbs. At the same time he knew that, even if theplace were deserted, there would be sure to be some signs of settlementnear, and possibly a track to the head station of the run on which itwas situated. 

CHAPTER IX. 

 "Methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain;

 * * * *

 See how the morning opes her golden gates, And takes her farewell of the glorious sun. "

 HENRY VI. , _Act_ 2 _of Part_ 3. 

It was then with a gladdened heart that William approached the hut, which was of dimensions little larger than a good-sized dog kennel; andwhen he reached the aperture that served for an entrance, and gazed atthe interior, he was not a little surprised to find that it was habited, though the inhabitant was not visible. The interior was as miserablelooking as could be imagined; the floor, or rather the ground on whichit stood, was covered with as much water as the earth outside; and theslabs, which formed its walls, had shrunk with their exposure to the sunand weather since they had been first put together, and left long andnarrow interstices between each, through which the rain driven by thewind, and the water on the ground in perfect streams, were permitted, _ad libitum_, to make their ingress. In the centre of the domicile, andseemingly firmly fixed into the ground, were four sticks, so placed asto form the four corners of a parallelogram; their ends were forked, andheld two other sticks about six feet long, resting longitudinally intheir supports. To each of these side poles were affixed, with smallskewer-like twigs, the sides of a sack which had been cut openlengthways; and formed in all, an impromptu bedstead or stretcher, onwhich, by a bundle of blankets that there appeared, it was evident theoccupier of the establisment was wont to court repose, free from themoisture of his mother earth. Under this rural bed, was a box of thatdescription generally brought to the country by emigrants, and at onceproclaimed its owner, to the practised eye of William, to be a "newchum;" for he well knew that after a very short residence in the countrysuch cumbrous attendants were usually dispensed with--shepherds who hadgained much experience usually carrying their extensive wardrobes ontheir backs, and their blankets and pots rolled up in their "swags. "

As we have said, William at once knew the rural swain, whose habitationthis was, to be one new to the colony; and he readily conjectured hisabsence from his abode was occasioned by some detention incidental tothe storm, and which his experience had not taught him to avoid. Beforethe door of the hut lay a few sticks and logs charred by fire, therelics of a conflagration; ignited, probably, for culinary purposes, aswell as to impart caloric to the person of the shepherd. Knowing theseto be less pervious to the wet than unburnt wood, William laid them inorder for burning, in a position as free from water as he could find;and after stripping the flakey bark off some tea trees (the inner partof which is generally dry and exceedingly inflammable), he speedilymanaged, as only bushmen can, to ignite a fire; and had it in a cheerfulblaze, as the rain subsided and the occupant of the hut made hisappearance. Somewhat refreshed by the genial warmth of the fire, and theprospect of having some tea and something to eat, William soon forgothis fatigue and late dangers; and when the man reached his place, rathersurprised at the appearance of a stranger, our friend had taken thebridle and saddle from his horse, hobbled him, and turned him out toofeed; and was comfortably seated at the fire, watching the water boil inthe shepherd's tin pot, preparatory to infusing his tea. 

The circumstances of the intrusion were soon explained by youngFerguson; and in a few minutes he and the shepherd were socially seatedat the fire, discussing their evening meal of salt meat, tea, and"damper;" and were pleasantly conversing together, as if they had beenboon companions from their youth. From this man William learnt that hehad entirely gone out of his way; and that in the morning his best planwould be not to attempt to regain the road in the way he had lost it, but to take the track that led from the stock-yard in the vicinity tothe head station; whence he would find a well-beaten line to the mainroad. His informant said he believed the road lay not far off; but hecould not say how far, nor in what precise direction; and should, therefore, recommend him, for greater certainty and security, to go bythe more circuitous way of the head station. William admired thiscautionary advice, and determined on the following morning to act uponit in preference to submitting himself to the ordeal of anotherswimming; more especially as the station on which he then was, wasRosehall, the place he had desired to find. 

In the course of their conversation, William had elicited from theshepherd some little information respecting himself; which we may bepardoned, for the sake of information, for inserting here. He had onlybeen in the colony about six months; and had been hired by his presentemployer direct from the ship in which he had emigrated, and brought atonce up to the station; where for some time he felt acutely thehardships of his situation; though he had gradually become inured tothem, and was then perfectly contented. When he arrived on the stationthe weather was fearfully wet; and he had been put into the hut he thenoccupied, and given the charge of a flock of sheep, which he was left totend in perfect solitude. Added to this, the discomfort of his home (ifhe could have called it by such a term), perfectly sickened him of thecountry, and he heartily wished himself back again in England;regretting the day he had ever been induced to leave it. Rolled in hisblankets, he used at night to lay down on the damp ground, to contractrheumatisms and numerous other ailments; while his rations andeverything about him were continually saturated; and to make up thecatalogue of his troubles, he, on more than one occasion, lost himselfin the bush. Now, however, he said, he had got used to all theseinconveniences; which, after all (from the rarity of their occurrence), he considered slight; and as to the wet, since he had been put up to thedodge of keeping his bed dry, it did not concern him in the least. Heliked the independence of his life, though it was a little dull; and hiswages being good, he was enabled to save plenty of money; while heintended to be removed to the head station, when, he said, he would beperfectly contented with his lot. 

The morning following the storm broke calm and beautiful; the air wasclear and fresh, and a serenity was diffused abroad, perfectlyenchanting; while the exhilarating buoyancy of the atmosphere, and itsrefreshing temperature, fully compensated for the previous visitation. William, as we would say here, rose with the lark; and having brought inhis horse, saddled and mounted him, and after bidding adieu to hisrustic entertainer, from whom he received directions about the road tothe station, "he went him on his winding way. "

After following the directions of the shepherd, in about an hour or sohe approached Rosehall, and presented himself to the inmates as theywere about sitting down to breakfast. Upon the relation to them of hisadventure, he had the satisfaction to learn, that if he had skirted thescrub for a short distance, until he came to the bend of the creek thatformed the pocket, in which he found himself after swimming it, he wouldhave been able to have struck the road in a few minutes. However, by thetime he received this information, it was of little use to him; andhaving entirely lost all thought of his past danger, he could laugh withhis friends at the absurdity of losing himself in the bush. He remainedat Rosehall a few hours longer than he intended, at the solicitation ofhis friend Mr Lauray; who was deeply interested in a question that wasthen agitating the whole population of Moreton Bay; and which we willtake the liberty of explaining. 

Some few years previous to the date of this incident, a small party, feeling the injustice and neglect under which the district had so longsuffered, introduced the idea of applying to the Crown for theseparation of the northern portion of New South Wales from the parentcolony; and its erection into a separate state, with the free exerciseof its own legislation. The movement at first gained little favour; asin the infant state of the district, it was thought premature, if notpreposterous. But that immortal colonial agitator, the Rev. Dr. Lang, declaring himself an advocate for separation; and forcibly aiding thescheme with his pen, and indefatigable exertions, the party continued togather strength until it had assumed a bold attitude, reiterating itsdemands to the throne. To give the reader some notion of the subject, we will endeavour to transcribe such of the conversation at Rosehall aswill serve to enlighten him. 

"I shall want you, Mr. Ferguson, now you are here, " said the proprietorof the place, "to affix your signature to a petition to the Queen, praying for the separation of these districts from New South Wales. "

"I am not yet convinced, " replied William, "that the district will bebenefited by being separated. "

"I don't think, " replied the other, "it will take much argument toconvince you, or any other rational being, that separation would notonly be beneficial, but is absolutely necessary for the welfare ofMoreton Bay. In the first place, we are not adequately represented inthe Assembly; and, in the next, five to six hundred miles is too great adistance to be removed from the seat of government. Even if the ministryhad the desire to do us justice, their unacquaintance with our wantswould prevent their inclinations from being of any service to us;though I am not disposed to think, from our past experience, that anySydney batch of legislators, would be at all inclined to give us anyconsideration. The revenue derivable from the districts, is annuallyswept into the Sydney treasury; and I would ask, with what return? Whyabsolutely nothing! They amount in this district alone, I have nohesitation in saying, to considerably over £150, 000; while, with theexception of a few salaries, paid to some almost useless officials, anda few hundreds voted occasionally for our roads, just to remind us thatwe are not entirely forgotten, we get no return. Look at our towns inthe country; whenever the exchequer is in need of a little ready money, they put up sufficient land in our district to replenish their coffers, and to make the inhabitants feel the desire and necessity for more. Ithas always been the policy of our rulers to keep the demand for land inexcess of the supply, by which means they create a spirited competition, and establish a fictitious value. Hence, these towns are each drainedof some thousands of pounds annually; while the streets are permitted, by the powers that be, to remain in their primeval state, either tobecome impassable, or dangerous to the limbs and lives of theinhabitants. "

"There certainly may be some little neglect on the part of thegovernment, " replied William; "but surely a district, with so limited apopulation as this, will with difficulty bear the expense of a separateexecutive?"

"Not at all, " said Mr. Lauray, "our income is perfectly adequate; infact it exceeds that of many an older state: besides we should have thesatisfaction of expending it ourselves, and should not require to becontinually demanding (but rarely receiving) money from the governmentfor such necessary works as bridges and roads. The present state of ourmain lines of traffic is perfectly scandalous; and if we should remain aportion of New South Wales until doomsday, I believe they wouldn't beput into an efficient state. "

"Well, but, " replied William, "I imagine we can only expect theexpenditure of our share of public money; and if all the districts gettheir proportions, what more can we desire?"

"But I deny, " replied the other, "that we are getting anything like ourproportion, or any proportion at all. The public revenue is mainlyswallowed up in works that do not at all affect the country districts;such as the public buildings in Sydney, and the harbour improvementsthere. Notice the colonial debt of between two and three millions, andsay how was it contracted? Was it not in the construction of Sydneysewers, Sydney water-works, and the Sydney railway? And for these, fromwhich we shall never receive the slightest benefit, we have not only hadour revenue appropriated for years, but have to sustain the impost ofhigher duties, to provide for the interest of this fund. "

"Still, " replied William, "I think it is only just, we should contributeour share of the public expenditure in the machinery of government. "

"Granted!" said Lauray, "but city improvements do not in any way comeunder that head. The improvement of the district is much, if notaltogether retarded, by the continual neglect at head quarters. Thereare certain public works, the necessity for which is severely felt, andeven acknowledged by the government itself to be highly desirable; butto every application of ours for the necessary money, we are met by thecool assertion, that they have none to give us. Can you imagine anythingmore unjust than this; after the application of our own funds topurposes foreign to our interests, when we demand the expenditure of asmall sum upon our own districts, to be informed that the money has beenexpended? We do not desire separation for the mere pleasure of being ourown masters; but for the purpose of having, more effectually, a voice inthe distribution of our revenue. If we had received more attention andjustice from the government in past years, we should never haveagitated separation; but now we feel it essentially indispensable, andseparation we must have. You are no doubt aware the Queen in council hasreserved to herself the right of dismemberment of these districts, whenever the wishes of the inhabitants should render it necessary; andnow we do not intend letting the question rest, until we have attainedour object. We have already forwarded many prayers to the throne; and atthis moment petitions are travelling the length and breadth of thecountry to obtain signatures. The opposition we shall receive from NewSouth Wales, I believe, will be strenuous; but the present size of thatcolony, nearly half that of Europe, is perfectly preposterous, andrenders the equitable administration of the laws, in so vast a territoryand with the seat of government so isolated, perfectly impossible. I amaware, that the revenue of the parent colony will be very much crippledby the separate erection of her offshoot; and her burdens will beconsequently heavier on her inhabitants. But because her legislatorshave, through a reckless system of extravagance, impoverished and runtheir country into debt, that is no reason why we should also be bounddown to her in her depression. I know many condemn the desire of theMoreton Bay people to relieve themselves from the embarrassment of NewSouth Wales; and state it is selfish and derogatory in us attempting torepudiate our share of the debt, and after being benefited by herprosperity in past years, to desire separation now, when her resourcesare more circumscribed. But I believe the obligation is the other way:Sydney has been drawing her prosperity in a great measure from thesedistricts; for the trade that has existed between us has been of greaterbenefit and more advantageous to her people than to us; and as for theirdebt, we are in no way liable for any portion of it. "

It is needless for us to trace this conversation any further; asdoubtless, by this time, our reader will have formed some conception ofthe "separation question. " Suffice it to say, that though William, owingto his having been living on the New South Wales side of the proposedboundary, had heard very little of it, and that only to its prejudice, it was a subject which absorbed the general attention of the Moreton Baycommunity; and he, becoming impregnated with the same feeling, leftRosehall a convert to the popular cry. 

Soon after his arrival in town, he selected the furniture and otherthings required on the station; and making arrangement with his agentfor their despatch by the return of the dray which was bringing down thewool, he turned his face to his father's house, and in due time reachedNew England, without the occurrence of any fresh adventure. 

"I am so pleased that you have come, dear Willie, " cried the bloomingand cheerful Kate, as she threw herself into William's arms when healighted from his horse at the door; "we have been expecting you forsome days, and began to think you had taken flight in some otherdirection. I am so anxious to hear all about your doings, and to knowall those kind people, whose acquaintance you have made; particularlythose near you, whom John says I am to stay with. Are they nice people, Willie? but I am sure they must be, or you wouldn't like them; but dotell me what sort of a girl Miss Rainsfield is? John says so many finethings about her; that she is a perfect angel, and all that sort ofthing; and that he has no doubt that, if I only have sufficient goodsense as to take her as my pattern, I will derive much benefit from myvisit. The impudent fellow, what does he mean by that, Will?"

"I don't know his precise motives, my little seraph, " replied William;"probably he thinks her quiet and serious manner would well accord withhis own little sister's nature; in preference to her volatile andspirited character; and that her calm and dignified manner, would suityou well in your new capacity of housekeeper. But I can support hisopinion that she is an amiable and charming creature; and I stronglysuspect that he is somewhat smitten with her. "

"Well, then, I'll tease him dreadfully for giving me such a horridlesson, " exclaimed Kate; "I can't be always serious like his Dulciana;besides I don't think it so nice, do you, Will?"

"I don't indeed, my dear, in your case at least, " replied he; "for Ithink it would spoil you to try and check your spirits; but there is onething I must entreat of you to remember, you foolish little thing. Although John has said nothing to me about his feelings towards MissRainsfield; as I have already told you, I strongly suspect he is overhead and ears in love with her; but for his sake you must not lightlymention her name, or the subject of his feelings; for, if he isenamoured of her, I fear he is doomed to disappointment. I understandshe is already engaged; though her cousin tells me, he does not thinkshe cares much for her betrothed; and that he intends attempting toprevent her from throwing herself away in the manner she contemplates. Still, I fancy any mention of the subject to John would pain him, so wemust be silent. Now tell me, my pet, what I have done to be leftstanding outside my father's house? may I not be permitted to walk in. "

"Oh, dear me, " exclaimed the girl, "I never thought I was keeping you onthe verandah; but, come along, mamma will be so glad to see you; I don'tthink she knows you've come, for I was the only one who caught sight ofyou. But, Willie, do you know Mr. Wigton is stopping with us just now, and he has been kind enough to promise to accompany us?" saying which, without waiting for any further remark from her brother, she trippedlightly into the house; followed by William, after he had delivered hishorse to one of the men. 

As we have already, in our opening chapter, introduced the reader to theFerguson family at Acacia Creek, we may be pardoned for omitting asimilar ceremony now; but of Mr. Wigton, who was at the time a visitorin the house, it may be necessary to say a few words. 

He was a clergyman of the Wesleyan persuasion; one of the old Methodistleaven; an earnest and devout man, and a conscientious Christian: onewho was kind and benevolent in his disposition, and without that bigotryand uncharitableness so prevalent among some of the rigid bodies ofreligionists. His piety was such, as to induce him, in the work of hisMaster, to forget all private interests, endure privation and fatigue, and to carry the consolations of religion into the remotest corner ofthe bush. He fulfilled, to the extent of his power, the injunctions ofhis Saviour, when He said, "Go ye into all the world and preach thegospel to every creature;" and while he received disappointments andmisfortunes with exemplary patience and unflinching courage, hepersevered in his course, with an energy worthy of the cause. In hiscorporeal capacity, to judge from his appearance, he was ill calculatedto sustain the continual exertions incumbent on his vocation; and yethe performed them with an alacrity truly surprising. He was of themiddle height; rather slim in figure, apparently delicate in hisconstitution, fair complexioned; and a bachelor of about thirty-fiveyears of age. He had refused various solicitations from congregations, to accept of a residentiary charge, and had devoted himself to themissionary's work, where the presence of a spiritual teacher was muchwanted. 

He had perceived that hundreds upon hundreds of square miles in thebush, in fact almost all the country districts, were destitute of aministry of any creed or denomination; and he had, with an earnest zealand devoted piety, undertaken the task of administering to the spiritualwants of the bushmen. Never since the days of the old apostles, had awork of such magnitude been attempted by a single-handed man; and anyheart less stout, or enthusiasm less genuine, than that of the Rev. Mr. Wigton, would have speedily sank under a load of mortification, at thedifficulties that beset his path. In a country where the Sabbath isalmost entirely forgotten; where on that sacred day the country storesexhibit their wares for sale, and the public-houses resound with theshouts of drunken revelry; where the servant is frequently punished, forrefusing to obey his master's commands to its desecration; whereblasphemy and sacrilege, in which master vies with man, is constantlyheard; and where ignorance and vice stalk triumphant through theland, --some conception may be formed of the stupendous nature of thereform to be effected. 

Thanks to such as this messenger of peace, much good has now beenaccomplished. Bad as it is, the Sabbath is better observed thanformerly, not only in the townships but on the stations; and depravityis on the wane. But, at the time of which we write, the state of moraldarkness was as great as any heathenism extant. To the work ofenlightenment, had Mr. Wigton sanctified himself; and his name hadalready become revered, in many places in the solitude of the bush, where he had been the instrument of bringing grace to his benightedcountrymen. At the same time, he had not neglected the case of theblack. He had with considerable difficulty, acquired a pretty accurateknowledge of their language and customs; and he preached the gladtidings to them, whenever an opportunity presented itself. His presentintention was to accompany William with his sister, on their journey toFern Vale; and, while spending some little time with them there, endeavour to do some good with the aborigines in that neighbourhood. 

CHAPTER X. 

 "Ah, what is love? It is a pretty thing, As sweet unto a shepherd as a king. "

 GREENE. 

 "Cease, cease these jars, and rest your mind in peace. "

 HENRY VI. , _Part_ 1, _Act_ 1, _Sc. _ 1. 

When we left John Ferguson after his departure from Strawberry Hill, weattempted to depict his feelings; as well as the motives whichinfluenced the minds of the Rainsfield ladies. In the resumption of ournarrative, we will follow our hero in the continuance of his mentalaberration. His misery and dejection were intense; and such were hissufferings, that he moved about his station a mere shadow of his formerself, and kept himself exclusively to his own place; attempting torelieve his feelings by engrossing his mind on his avocation. TomRainsfield, in the meantime, had learnt from his sister-in-law the causeof John's estrangement; and deeply sympathising with his friend, he madehis visits to Fern Vale as frequent as possible, to cheer and enlivenhim in his dullness. Tom imagined if he could but induce him to banishhis despondency, he would be enabled to make him feel there was a chanceof his succeeding in overcoming Eleanor's scruples in breaking faithwith Smithers; by inducing her to look favourably upon his addresses. Atthe same time, he felt the delicacy of his task; for he had no warrant, on which to ground his assumption of his friend's attachment; though(notwithstanding that John Ferguson had not breathed to a creature hislove for Eleanor) he was perfectly convinced, he was irretrievably lostin the passion. Whether or not Tom had been enlisted into the servicesof his sister-in-law, we will not stop to consider; or in fact can wepretend to say; though, from the earnestness with which he proceededwith his scheme, we are led to imagine that, possibly stimulated by hisown inclinations, he was, nevertheless, acting under the guidance ofthat astute and pertinent directress. He had laid down certain plans foroperation; and had so far succeeded in their execution, as to induceJohn Ferguson to lend the aid he had on a former occasion promised toMr. Rainsfield, in the erection of a bridge over the Wombi; and toproceed himself to the river, and assist in its construction. 

The house at Fern Vale was by this time finished, and the carpenters whohad been employed in its erection were consequently disengaged. This wasconsidered a good opportunity by Tom Rainsfield; and the men wereforthwith despatched to the Wombi, to assist in the construction of thebridge. On the appointed day, John met Mr. Rainsfield and Tom at thescene of action, and work was at once commenced. 

They first selected the two largest trees on the bank of the river; andafter attaching strong ropes to their trunks, to guard against theirfalling into the stream, and thus elude their destiny, they felled them. Their next arrangement, after clearing the stems of their branches, wasto make them span the creek; which being accomplished they left thecarpenters to do the rest. This was to strengthen and support the beams, by erecting upright pieces as buttresses at the edge of the stream, soas, not only to keep the fallen trees firmly fixed, but to give themadditional power to sustain weight. After this the men were to make aflooring, by firmly fixing across the main trunks some stout saplings, and cover it with earth, which would complete, what our friendsconsidered would be, a very serviceable structure. 

The young men, after they had accomplished the task of getting the logsto span the creek, as we have said, left the carpenters to complete thework; while they took their departure from the spot, and turned home. Here John Ferguson essayed to leave his friends; but that they would nothear of. Tom, especially, was loud in declaiming against such a course;declaring that the ladies would be justly offended when they knew thathe had been at Strawberry Hill without calling upon them. "You may justas well drop in, " he said, "and dine with us, and I will ride over toFern Vale with you in the evening. "

To this invitation John could offer no reasonable objection; and notwishing it to be imagined that he entertained any disrespect for Mrs. Rainsfield, he wavered in his rigid determination to absent himself;while his friends were the more pressing for him to accompany them; andat last all further parley was ended by Tom turning the heads of thehorses towards the house, and constraining his companion to follow him. 

When the party rode up to the station, they left their horses at thestable, and walked into the house, at the entrance of which they weremet by Mrs. Rainsfield. John she at once attacked for his past coolnessand unneighbourly conduct in abstaining from ever calling upon her; andhe, when he had entered the parlour, and was met by Eleanor with justsufficient confusion and reserve to make her more than ever interesting, and with a warmth that quite overcame him, felt the old fire in hisheart burning with redoubled fury. But when she exclaimed, "Really, Mr. Ferguson we had quite relinquished the idea of ever seeing you again, you have so long estranged yourself from our society;" and continued, "Ican't think you could have taken any offence at anything we may havedone or said; but if so, upon your mentioning it, we will endeavour tomake the _amende honorable_, "--he was perfectly reclaimed from his"slough of despond. " At the same time he knew he could make noexplanation, and therefore kept silent. What was he to do? he was againenslaved as hopelessly as ever; for the charm of Eleanor's presence hecould not resist. How could he act a part of coldness or indifference, when she enchanted him with her kindest manner, and gladdened his heartwith her sweetest smile? At that moment he made a determination whichseemed to alter his whole manner, and infuse new life into his spirits;what that determination was, gentle reader, thou shalt shortly know byhis actions. The thought passed through his mind, as the transient cloudflits across the face of the sun; it thawed the ice-bound ligaments ofhis heart, and gave him utterance in the following remark:

"I am afraid I am indeed a truant, Miss Rainsfield, and ought thereforeto make my apologies due on my neglect; but it would be useless in myattempting to exonerate, or even excuse myself; so I will throw myselfon your clemency, and crave your interpretation of my abandonment, inthe most charitable light. "

This speech of John's, if it were uttered designedly, was a masterpiece. To Mr. Rainsfield it had an air of flippancy that indicated to him atotal suppression of any tender feeling; and he congratulated himselfthat his young friend had had sufficient good sense to see the justiceof his remarks to him with respect to Eleanor. To Mrs. Rainsfield itappeared in a different light; she detected in it a warmth that sprungspontaneously from the heart; and from it she argued favourably of thesuccess of her schemes, and the happiness of her friends. To Eleanor itwas mysterious; whether it was that it was the first time John hadattempted anything in the shape of flattery to her, and that she feltsurprised; or that her vanity was pleased with the flattery, we cannotsay. Bear with us, gentle reader, when we make the allusion, for howperfect soever a woman may be, she is not completely devoid of vanity;and chaste and innocent as was our Eleanor, it was possible for her toreceive a thrill of pleasure, at hearing a well-directed compliment fromone whom she respected; believing it to be uttered with an expressionof something more than mere idle coquetry. Or, it may be, a certaintruth flashed across her mind; but certain it is that, when she heardit, the blush mantled her fair cheek, and she turned away her head. ToTom it was the source of rejoicing; for he did not consider whether thespeech was expressive of genuine or assumed sentiment, but simplynoticed in it a return of his friend to his former self. 

Such, then, were the mutual feelings of the party assembled at theRainsfield's table, as they sat down, with all restraint and formalitydissipated from their circle. Mrs. Rainsfield, who was bent upon a _coupde main_, now proposed to John Ferguson, that he should stop the nightat Strawberry Hill; and she would make up a little pic-nic, for thefollowing day, to the falls of the Wombi; which she had heard the peopletalk a good deal about, and had often desired to see. She said she hadcontemplated the party for some time, and wished to have had itorganized while William was at home; but John had kept himself so muchaloof from them, that she had not had the opportunity. She appealed toher husband to head the party, but he excused himself on the grounds ofemployment, and proposed that Tom should act as their guide instead;while he stated, if they wanted any of the men to carry their things outin the morning, he would spare them two. This arrangement they allseemed delighted with; and it was finally settled that Mrs. Rainsfield, Eleanor, Tom, and John Ferguson, should start about eleven o'clock onthe following morning, and that the ladies should prepare a coldcollation, which was to precede them. 

The falls of the Wombi were insignificant, compared with what we areused to witness in the romantic scenery of Scotland, or the lakedistrict of England; though in themselves, and for the Australian bush, they were at times anything but contemptible. After heavy rains, whenthe river was swollen into a large body of water, they were certainlygrand. During the early part of the summer, when the stream was lower, they might be designated pretty; but towards the close of the dryseason, when the rivers ceased to flow, and their courses become dividedinto endless chains of pools, preserving in their concatenation anindependent existence, the "falls" were either extremely mean, orentirely evanescent. For the present, however, we will refrain frommaking any further description, until we visit them with our friends onthe morrow; merely premising that the summer was about half spent, thatit was in fact about Christmas time, and the water in the creek ratherlow. 

On the following day, as had been previously arranged, the party, havingbeen preceded by the provender carriers, mounted their horses and movedoff from the house under the guidance of Tom Rainsfield. The shortestroute to the falls lay through the bush, in a direct line of about sevenmiles; but the equestrians preferred following up the course of theriver; as, though longer by some three miles, it was pleasanter andmore picturesque. At the same time they had no desire to hurrythemselves; but determined to spend the greater portion of the day inthe excursion, and therefore rode on at their leisure, in couples; howarranged, we need not say. 

After nearly two hours riding, upon their arrival at the desired goal, the scene that presented itself to their view, was pleasing andcharmingly picturesque. Facing the party, and extending in eitherdirection for a considerable distance, was a ridge or range forming anatural terrace, rising from eighty to a hundred feet almostperpendicularly. It was literally covered with bush of variousdescriptions, from the dwarfish wattle to the lofty gum, and iron bark;presenting to each other, in their various tints of foliage, a relievingcontrast of colour. From the very midst of this, the fall emerged; andafter tumbling over a few impediments in its way, through which itseemed vainly endeavouring to force a passage, it made a leap of aboutsixty feet; and formed as pretty a little cascade as could be imagined. 

The party stopped at the head of the creek, where they obtained a goodview of the falls; and were perfectly enraptured with the scene, which, though in itself was but ordinary, had an influence, in thecircumstances under which they were assembled, in directing their mindsinto a pleased and contented channel. Besides, there was a novelty insuch scenery in Australia; and humble as the pretensions of the fallsmight have been to the picturesque, in the eyes of an English tourist, John Ferguson, who had rarely, and Eleanor Rainsfield, who had neverseen anything like it, could not help admiring the beauty of thelandscape. Our friends soon selected a spot for their camp; in fact, thespot had already been chosen by their harbingers, who had fixed upon alittle rising knoll on the bank of the creek, a short distance below thefalls; of which they commanded an excellent view. Here the partydismounted, and leaving the horses to the care of the men, theydiscussed the nature of their further proceedings; while the ladiesarranged their equestrian habiliments, so as not to incommode them intheir walking. Then putting all things in order for their luncheon, andrequesting the men to boil some water (on a fire the fellows hadkindled), for the purpose of making that universal beverage in the bush, without which no meal would be considered complete; Mrs. Rainsfieldproposed to the gentlemen that they should take a walk up to the falls, and see if the ascent of the range was practicable, and if so, what sortof a prospect there was from the summit. 

The suggestion was instantly acted upon; and after thoroughly surveyingthe falls, from every point of view at its foot, Tom was despatched toattempt the ascent; while the rest in the meantime sat down on thegrass, to await his return. This, however, was not until some time hadelapsed; and when he did make his appearance, he stated that the rangecould be mounted; but he would not advise them to try it, as the hillabounded with snakes. He then hurriedly informed them, that he had comedown for a gun, which he had noticed one of the men had brought withhim; and was going to return to shoot a reptile that had impeded hisprogress. Mrs. Rainsfield desired him to stay, saying she was sure thesnake would not have waited for his return; but he only laughed andassured her that he would certainly find it upon his return, and bringit to her as a trophy. He then dashed away, and was seen in a fewminutes, posting up the acclivity with the gun in his hand ready forexecution. 

"What a stupid fellow that is, " remarked Mrs. Rainsfield, "to be runningaway from us to kill a snake, and perhaps incur the risk of gettingbitten by another. While he was here, and it was not safe for us to goup, he might as well have remained. "

We will not follow the conversation that ensued; but merely state thatafter some minutes had elapsed, as the party began to expect the returnof Tom disappointed of his game, a shot was heard, and after a fewmoments another; upon which Mrs. Rainsfield remarked, "I suppose weshall soon see our snake-hunter now, and see what sport he has had. Ifhe does not produce some trophy, we must give him no peace; but here hecomes. " At which moment Tom Rainsfield presented himself, and threw downbefore his friends the bodies of two green snakes; which we may hereremark are a kind extremely dangerous, from the difficulty of detectingthem, owing to their colour so much resembling that of the foliage ofthe trees or grass. The ladies instantly jumped up from their sittingposture with a scream; but perceiving that the snakes were no longerdangerous, they were speedily reassured, and demanded to hear theadventure which had resulted in their destruction. This Tom promised totell them, after he had submitted his hands to a slight ablution in thecreek; and accordingly did so as they retraced their steps to the camp;and we, to enlighten the reader on the subject, will follow himsuccinctly in his own words. 

"I managed, " said he, "to get up the face of the range with somedifficulty, for it was awfully steep; but though I succeeded in reachingthe top, I had little or nothing for my trouble; for beyond an expanseof bush, there was absolutely no view. It is true I could just obtain aglimpse of 'the hill, ' and the windings of the river at various bends, but that was all; and the prospect was certainly not worth the troubleof reaching the elevation to obtain. I was soon satisfied with itscontemplation; and turned to come down, which, if not convenient orsafe, was certainly easy and expeditious; for I had continually to holdon by one of the overhanging branches of the smaller trees, and eitherslide, jump, or precipitate myself down steeps and over perpendicularrocks. In making one of these little exploits, I lost my footing bydislodging a large stone; which, but for the grasp I had of the stoutbough of a tree, I should certainly have followed. However, I savedmyself; and watching the stone in its downward progress, as it wentbounding along, taking others with it in its descent, and crushing thesmall bushes in its passage; I saw, or fancied I saw, a large greensnake suddenly dart out of its way, and up into a tree. I kept my eye onthe tree until I got down to it; and then minutely inspected everybranch, as well as I could with my simple vision, but could see nothing. I then thought I might have been mistaken, but at the same time, couldhardly believe my eyes had been deceived. The tree was only a youngsapling, and could be bent with ease; so to satisfy myself, I determinedto try if my friend was a myth, or a genuine snake, which had reallytaken up his quarters in the sheltering boughs above my head. With thisintent I took its stem in my double grasp, and gave it a shake, thelike of which I am certain it never had since it became a tree; it wasenough to shake the very ghost out of it, and had the effect ofdisplacing my verdant friend, who dropt at my very feet. He did notexactly know what to make of it, though he did not wait long toconsider, for he soon twisted off, and darted into another tree ratherlarger than the first. "

"I then looked out for a good-sized-stick, to touch him up with when henext visited _terra firma_; and for the purpose of discovering hisposition, and compelling his immediate capitulation, I besieged the treewith stones. He was not long in giving me indication of his _locale_, for I soon distinguished him, coiled round a branch almost at itsextreme end; with his head and about a foot of his body protruding. Icontinued to pelt him; and he to dart his head at me, thrusting out histongue and hissing fearfully, as much as to say, 'If I only could, wouldn't I, hat's all. ' I twice or thrice shook him in his position, but could not dislodge him; for he had got himself too firmly coiledround the bough: then I thought of our fellow's gun. I knew the snakewas too frightened to leave his place for some time; so I discontinuedthe discharge of my missiles, took my note of the tree, came down forthe fowling-piece, returned to the scene of battle; and then commencedanother pelting, to ascertain if the reptile had retained his post. Sureenough it was there, for the head soon made itself visible; but strangeto say from quite a different part of the tree. I imagined from this, that the beast must have removed in my absence; but I was mistaken, forI soon detected my friend in his old place, and perceived that I had gota pair of beauties to deal with. I was aware that the snakes usually goin pairs; but having seen the first one mount the tree alone, I neverdreamt of his having a mate, which I suppose must have joined him whileI was away. However, I soon made short work of the two; for I shot themone after the other, and they dropt down as quietly as possible; while Igave them each a crack on the head, to knock out any sense that mighthave remained, and then laid them, like a dutiful gallant, at yourfeet. "

"You were certainly very gracious, but we could have well dispensed withthat piece of gallantry, " replied his sister-in-law; "however, weforgive you: and now for our repast. "

The repast was soon spread on a cloth on the grass; and the party satdown to its discussion in the highest glee, which was maintained duringthe meal's continuance. Theirs was the cup "which cheers, but notinebriates;" and they indulged in their merriments and pleasantries, without the aid of those stimulants which create an excitement at theexpense of health, both corporeal and mental. After the conclusion oftheir tiffin, Mrs. Rainsfield proposed a walk down the bank of thecreek, to collect a few of the wild flowers she had noticed when comingup; and leaving the man in attendance to pack up the things, and havetheir horses ready for them in about half an hour or so, they saunteredalong the stream. 

CHAPTER XI. 

 "My genius whispers me Go on and win her, --for there's nought That's more unsteadfast than a woman's thought. "

 COOKE. 

 "There lies the sore point, which will brook no handling. "

 SIR WALTER SCOTT. 

John and Eleanor, followed by Mrs. Rainsfield and Tom, commenced theirgathering of the forest's blossoms, and sauntered on without any seeminginterest in their occupation; for their thoughts were otherwise centred. Eleanor would walk by the side of her companion, supporting her part forsome minutes at a stretch, in a spirited and lively conversation; everand anon directing her lovely eyes to the features of John; while he, in ecstasies with the warmth of her manner, returned the glance withredoubled tenderness; and with the force of his ardent and inspiringconversation communicated the blush of pleasure to her cheek. 

Thus they walked on for some time quite absorbed in themselves, untilthey found they had got considerably in advance of their companions; somuch so, that they could not even see them. Upon this discovery, Johnsuggested that their friends might have slightly deviated from thetrack; allured, perhaps, into the bush by something that might haveattracted their attention, and were possibly not far off. He thereforeproposed that Eleanor and himself should sit down and wait until theyovertook them; but to this his companion was unwilling to agree. Hehowever combatted her opinion that they had returned, and that it wouldbe better for herself and him to retrace their steps also, by sayingthat Mrs. Rainsfield would never turn back without first giving themintimation; and that by retracing their steps then, they would possiblymiss, and give one another a good deal of trouble and uneasiness, in amutual search. Whether this advice was agreeable or not to Eleanor, wecannot say, but she silently complied; and sat down by his side, as hethrew himself on the grass. 

John, at this moment, became absorbed with thoughts that entirelysubverted his former cheerfulness. The circumstances of his situationpresented themselves to his mind's eye in full force; and suggested, astheir solitude had very opportunely afforded him the means of declaringto Eleanor the feelings uppermost in his thoughts, and which he had solong burned to disclose, that he should not allow it to slip. But hisheart failed within him, as he was on the point of giving utterance tohis love; and though it spoke volumes, his tongue failed to articulate asound. Thus they sat for some minutes, when Eleanor broke the silence byremarking, "What can have become of those truants?" and recieving noreply from her companion, directed an enquiring gaze to his face. 

In that countenance, where she used to witness animation and spirit, shenow only detected profound abstraction, and a vision directed fixedlyinto space. She contemplated the features for some few moments; andthen, while she laid her hand upon John's shoulder, addressed him withthe enquiry, "May I participate in the pleasure of your thoughts, Mr. Ferguson? they must be deeply interesting, for they seem to haveengrossed your entire attention. "

John started at the sound of Eleanor's voice, and awaking from hisreverie, while he siezed in his fevered grasp the hand of his companion, replied: "Indeed you may, my dear Eleanor (pardon my familiarity); yoursweet voice has broken the spell; and if you experience pleasure from arecital of my thoughts, I shall indeed be the happiest mortal on earth. When I say I love you, Eleanor, I convey but a shadow of what Iinwardly feel; it has long been my one consuming fire; you, and youalone, are the object of my warmest and tenderest affections. Your kindand sweet excellence first won my regard, and I early learnt to cherishyour image as my soul's talisman and idol; but ere I had an opportunityof breathing in your ear the nature of the fire that consumed me, myhopes were blighted. I learnt from your cousin the existence of anengagement that has stamped my spirit with despair; and though I havestriven to forget you, save as a dear friend, and have almost drivenmyself frantic in the struggle, yet it is without success. At a time, when I had almost banished from my memory the existence of my passion, some passing object would reflect your image in the mirror of my mind, and would render me almost demented with the thought that your charmswere destined to bless some other one. Oh, say my angel! can that be? Isit possible your troth is plighted to another? Pray, speak; my destinyhangs upon your answer. Say but that you bid me hope; that you will notreject me; anything rather than discard or banish me from your presence, without the chance of catching one ray of the sunshine of your smile. "

John then paused, and gently removing the hand that attempted to concealher face, in a more subdued tone he continued, "You weep; I have beenwild, I have agitated you. Oh, hear me, Eleanor! be but mine, and I neednot tell you I will cherish you above all earthly prizes. I already loveyou to distraction; I would thenceforth live but for thee. You aresilent; you do not reciprocate my feeling. Oh, this torture! Utter mydoom, for I can bear it. I see it is as I feared; you are engaged toanother. Oh! speak, Eleanor, is it not so?"

"It is, sir, " uttered a voice that made both parties start, and that putan end to John's declaration. "She is engaged to me, and if she willnot say it herself, I will for her; and at the same time I have tointimate to you, that since I have discovered your pretensions, I do notintend to permit them to go unpunished, unless you instantly quit thelady's side;" and the speaker, Bob Smithers, flourished his whip in amenacing attitude, as he stalked up to the couple, who had now risen. 

"As to you and your threats, " replied John Ferguson, "I both equallyscorn to notice. Since you have chosen to act the part of eavesdropper, you have certainly overheard our conversation; but my question wasdirected to Miss Rainsfield, not to you; therefore, I declinerecognising your interference. If Miss Rainsfield desires me to leaveher presence, I will do so instantly, and--

"Oh, no, no, Mr. Ferguson, " sobbed Eleanor, "don't leave me withthat--with Mr. Smithers. "

"I would not leave you, but in the care of your friends, " replied John;and then continuing his remark to Smithers, he said, "and if I hear, from her own lips, that she acknowledges her engagement to you, from therespect which I entertain for her, I will at once withdraw mypretensions. "

"Ask her, " exclaimed Smithers; "let her answer for herself. "

"Is it so, Miss Rainsfield?" asked our dejected hero; "make no scrupleof answering, for fear of giving _me_ pain, I am perfectly inured to itstrials. "

Poor Eleanor essayed to speak, but she could not; her heart was too fullfor utterance, and she covered her face with her hands, and burst intotears. 

"Speak, Eleanor, " cried Smithers, "and tell him, whether or not you areengaged to me. "

Eleanor took her hands from her face, and with an effort, which cost herher consciousness, exclaimed, "I am;" and immediately sank to the groundinsensible. John stooped to raise her prostrate form, but was rudelypushed on one side by his opponent; who exclaimed, with an oath, that"he would knock him down if he dared to lay a finger on the lady. "

"At any other time, " cried John, "and under any other circumstances, Iwould have resented your insult in a manner that would have given youcause to remember me; at present, however, I shall consider you beneatheven my contempt. This young lady was entrusted to my protection by herown family, who are not far distant; so touch me again at your peril;"saying which he advanced, and lifted the inanimate form of his belovedEleanor. 

"What is the meaning of this?" cried Mrs. Rainsfield, as she burst uponthe scene. "What, Eleanor fainted?" and she flew to the assistance ofher cousin, who under her sympathetic administration speedily exhibitedsigns of returning consciousness. Then having time to address herself tothe parties about her, Mrs. Rainsfield at once turned to Smithers, andin a voice, and with a look of scorn, said: "I perceive you, sir, arethe cause of this, which is in perfect keeping with your usualbarbarity. I request you will instantly remove from our presence; as Ihave no desire, that my cousin's nerves should be again shocked, byeither the recollection of the past, or the recurrence of futureattrocities; both of which are entailed by your presence. "

"For that speech, madam, " exclaimed Smithers, "you may thank yourselfyou wear the female garb, or, by heaven! I would give you good cause torepent it. "

"I am well aware of it, sir, " replied the lady, "if your couragepermitted, you would attempt it; and even woman as I am, I doubt not, you would not hesitate the application of your whip, were it not for therestraining influence of these gentlemen present. But go, sir; we wishno parley. "

"The advisableness of that motion, madam, " said Smithers, "I willreserve to myself the right to decide. I am the most interested in theyoung lady, who seems so much affected; resulting, I presume, from myhaving detected her in a position with that gentleman (scowling atJohn) which not only reflects impropriety on her, but discredit to you. "

"That, sir, " almost shrieked the now exasperated lady, "you have noright to affirm. We, as her relations, are the best judges of herconduct, as well as our own; and if Miss Rainsfield is objectionable toyou, I have no doubt she will at once exonerate you from yourengagement. But I have to request that you leave us; for the instantMiss Rainsfield sufficiently recovers to walk, we will remove from thespot; and you need not flatter yourself you'll be permitted to followus. "

"You considerably over-estimate your own attractions, madam, " repliedSmithers; "and the merits of your friends, if you imagine they aresufficiently seductive to induce me to deviate from my path by followingyour steps. But I am neither disposed to forgo my claim on MissRainsfield, nor to permit the pretensions of any other suitor. "

How long this controversy would have lasted, it is difficult to say, had not Tom attempted to persuade Smithers to leave them; and Eleanor, who at the same time opened her eyes, begged him, in a voice and look ofentreaty to depart, promising to explain the circumstances to him atsome other time. He then turned away into the bush, and joined a man whoappeared to be his companion, but whom they had not before noticed;while the party retraced their steps to the camp, and were soon on theirway home. The feelings that agitated their various breasts, we willleave the reader to conjecture; merely stating that they so operated, asto cause the journey to be performed almost in silence. When theyreached Strawberry Hill, Eleanor at once proceeded to her chamber, andin her privacy gave vent to the feelings that overpowered her in a floodof tears; while John, very much subdued in spirit, almost immediatelytook his departure, accompanied by Tom Rainsfield. 

We may now explain the sudden appearance of Bob Smithers, when he sounceremoniously interrupted the _tete-a-tete_ of John and Eleanor. Hehad been accompanied by a man (to whom he was attempting to sell a runon the Gibson, below Fern Vale) to show him the country; and inreturning, having taken the route by which he would cross the Wombi atthe upper flat on the Dingo plains a little below the falls, heaccidentally caught the sound of voices as he approached the river, andbeing curious to know from whence they emanated, he rode with hiscompanion towards the spot. When he came sufficiently close to see whatwe have already described, he could hardly believe his eyes; for heinstantly recognised John Ferguson, though the lady who was listening tohis appeal, he could not so readily detect. That it must be EleanorRainsfield he did not doubt, though how she came in such company, and insuch a place, he could not imagine, and could hardly reconcile to hisbelief. He, however, listened, and when he caught her name uttered byher prostrate suitor, his rage at the discovery was unbounded. Yet hisinquisitiveness to hear more, and know how she received the addresses, overcame for the moment, the first impulse of his malevolence; and kepthim silent until the moment, when he dismounted from his horse, we haveseen him appear on the scene. 

After parting from the Rainsfields, he altered his determination ofgoing home direct; and arranging with his companion to meet him atBrompton on the following day, he dashed his spurs into his horse'sflanks; and being impelled by the excitement of a jealous frenzy andmalice, he pulled up at Strawberry Hill a full hour before the pic-nicparty made their appearance; and instantly sought an interview with Mr. Rainsfield. 

Not finding him in the house, Bob Smithers commenced a search; and soondistinguished his voice in high altercation with some one, as heapproached the door of the store, where he overheard the followingdialogue. 

"I tell you again, you are an old fool; you knew perfectly well that Inever permit these villainous black scoundrels to come near my premises;and yet you encourage this fellow to the place, and allow him to purloinmy property through your want of attention. I would not care a snuff, were it not that I have taken considerable pains to keep them aloof: andI know very well that if they are allowed to return, I shall never besafe from their depredations; and this from your infernal idiotcy andmadness. "

"You will pardon me, Mr. Rainsfield, " replied a voice, whichdistinguished its owner as Mr. Billing, "it grieves me to be under thenecessity of contradicting you; but, sir, I really must be permitted todiffer from you, in your expressed opinion of an aberration of myintellect. I am proud to state, sir, that I have been ordained by theAlmighty with the full and unimpaired use of my faculties; I canreadily, sir, however, make allowance for the ebullition of yourfeelings; but must most distinctly beg to inform you, sir, that youlabour under a misapprehension with regard to my sanity; for I may sayin the language of the immortal bard, "My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time. "

"Bosh!" ejaculated the other, "a truce to your trash; you sicken me withyour fastidiousness; and if you are not mad yourself, you are likely todrive me so. No one unless afflicted with sheer insanity, would allowthat black fellow into the store; and then above all things leave him init. There isn't the slightest use in your attempting to excuse yourself, for you can't improve matters: you are a perfect nuisance in the place;and I declare if it were not for your family, I would not be botheredwith your continual absurdities. "

"I really conceive myself flattered, sir, by your good opinion of myvaluable services; but doubt not, if they were as insignificant as youprofess my manner of performing them is distasteful to you, you wouldere this have dispensed with them. But, Mr. Rainsfield, you will excusemy freedom, in defending myself against your imputations on my capacity;you must know, sir, that I have been connected with one of the firsthouses in London, the firm of Billing, Barlow, & Co. , of Thames Street;and but for the unfortunate circumstance, of my having allowed myself tobe allured to this country, by the glowing accounts of designing men, Ishould, sir, have still been in the enjoyment of comfortable means, ifnot of opulence. My experience therefore, sir, has been such as towarrant my assertion; and I utter it, I assure you, sir, withoutegotism, but merely as the result of a practical mercantile life; that Iam sufficiently conversant with business, to undertake the management ofany establishment; even, I may add, sir, without disparagement to you, one of greater magnitude than Strawberry Hill; and also--

"For goodness sake, stop that trash; what on earth has all that got todo with your permitting the black to enter the store, which is supposedto be under your charge, and for the contents of which you areresponsible?"

"I was about to explain that point, sir, when you interrupted me; but myfirst consideration was to establish my good fame, from the imputationcast upon it by you; which imputation, I am fain to believe, was utteredin a moment of hastiness; and which, after I have explained thecircumstances of the case, you will be happy to retract. However, sir, permit me to continue. The black, I have every reason to believe, is inthe service of Mr. Ferguson at Fern Vale; for he came over this morning, while you were absent at the bridge, with a message for that gentlemanfrom his overseer; and knowing him to be on an excursion with theladies, and thinking he would be back about mid-day, I advised him, sir, to delay his return to the station, until he had seen his master. Hence, you see, sir, his presence on the station was perfectly justifiable. With regard to his peccancy I will not attempt, sir, to offer anypalliation beyond the expression of my belief, that the tobacco wastaken without any notion of the offence he was committing; in proof ofwhich, I may mention, sir, the absence of any concealment on his part, when you came to the store. It was natural, sir, he should follow meabout the place, from my having advised him to stay until the arrival ofhis master; and I, having occasion to go to the store, he accompanied methere; and being suddenly called away, sir, I inadvertently perhaps, left the door open and him inside. Then, it appears, he appropriated thetobacco you found in his hand, and had I returned before you came up, Ishould have as readily perceived, and as soon induced him to deliver it. If I might venture, sir, to express an opinion, I would say, at most, the offence is a paltry one, and could well be left unnoticed; moreespecially as he is, as I have premised, a servant of Mr. Ferguson. "

"Do you think that is any reason why the scoundrel should escape?"exclaimed Rainsfield. "When Mr. Ferguson knows as much about them as Ido, he will likewise exclude them from his place. I have been atconsiderable pains at keeping them at a distance, and do not intend tolet them be emboldened by the success of this scoundrel; which wouldnecessarily be the case were he to escape scathless. He shall bepunished, and that speedily and effectually. "

At this point of the discussion Bob Smithers joined the disputants, andhaving been an unseen listener to these objurgations; and, having anatural antipathy to the blacks, and a vindictive desire to annoy hislately discovered rival, had a corresponding inclination to support Mr. Rainsfield's determination to punish the captive. 

"Your arrival, Smithers, " said the other, as Bob entered the store, "isvery opportune. I have just discovered a blackguardly black fellowstealing tobacco, and it appears from my storekeeper's account, he is aservant of Mr. Ferguson. What would you propose we should do with him?"

"I would say flog him, " replied Smithers; "take him into the bush, sothat his voice cannot be heard at the house, and tie him up to a tree;give him a taste of the stock-whip, and send him home to his master, with a request that if he takes a fancy to the brutes, he either keepsthem on his run, or teaches them to exhibit better propensities whenthey visit his neighbours. "

"A capital idea, by Jove! Smithers, " exclaimed Rainsfield; "we willcertainly give him a tickling. I have got a fellow on the station thatwould cut a piece clean out of the hide of a bullock with hisstock-whip. I will get him to manipulate; and I calculate, our darkiehere will not trouble us with his presence again. " As he said this hejoined his companion in a burst of merriment at the wonder depicted inthe countenance of their almost unconscious victim, who evidentlyanticipated rough usage, though perfectly ignorant of the nature of thesentence passed upon him. Rainsfield then called one of the men, anddirected him to get Smith, the stock-man, to take the black fellow intothe bush for a few hundred yards, and tie him up to a tree with his backbared, and take a stock-whip with him, and await the coming of himselfand Mr. Smithers. 

"You surely, gentlemen, do not intend putting your threat intoexecution, " cried Billing, who was standing amazed at the coolness oftheir preparations. "I appeal, sir, to your sense of honour, to yourlove of justice, to your charitableness, to induce you to desist fromthe perpetration of so vile an outrage on humanity. How can you punish, sirs, with such severity a poor, ignorant black, whose offence has beenso trifling, that no honourable man would notice it? Besides, gentlemen, I maintain it is unjust to punish a poor aboriginal for an action inwhich he perceives or knows no wrong. If you persist in the fulfilmentof this barbarity, and violation of your charge as Justices of thePeace, let your own consciences be your accusers. "

The result of this harangue was only the production of an inordinateburst of laughter from both Rainsfield and Smithers; who, without anyfurther notice of the philanthropic storekeeper, than a forcible requestfrom the latter to visit certain regions, the utterance of which wouldbe unpleasant to ears polite, they followed the men to the place ofpunishment. 

We will not accompany them to witness this scene, the disgusting andunfeeling nature of which we cannot sufficiently condemn, but merelystate that for some minutes the air was rent by the shrieks of thevictim; while the two gentlemen and J. P. Watched the process, and thenreturned arm in arm to the house in high glee. Upon reaching thedomicile, and discovering that the pic-nic party had come back, Smithersdrew his companion away, and told him he wished to have a few minutesconversation with him privately; whereupon Rainsfield, firstascertaining that Eleanor had retired to bed, that his wife was withher, and that his brother and Ferguson had gone to Fern Vale, returnedwith his companion to the store: in which they locked themselves. Whatwas the nature of their conversation we can pretty correctly conjecture;as also, no doubt, can our readers. It will, therefore, be unnecessaryfor us to trespass on their privacy; to the full enjoyment of which wewill leave them. 

CHAPTER XII. 

 "Then come, my sister! come, I pray, With speed put on your woodland dress. "

 WORDSWORTH. 

Before William had been long at Acacia Creek he began to experience theimpatience of his sister in her incessant promptings to commence hisjourney; and, notwithstanding that he knew their house could not beready for her reception for some time, he was constrained to submit toKate's desire to enter at once upon her probationary visit. Theirarrangements were soon made, and the young lady was not the last who wasready for the start; her mind was not troubled with a superfluity ofapparel, or an infinity of boxes. We cannot say if she was peculiar toher sex in this respect, but certain it is she did not hesitate to makethe journey without the legion of packages which are usually theconcomitants of travelling ladies. All her paraphernalia was comfortablysettled on the back of a pack-horse, while her general effects were leftto be forwarded to her brother's station as opportunity offered. 

That Kate Ferguson left her father's house without regret we do notbelieve; but her mind was so taken up with the thoughts of her domesticimportance, and she was so absorbed with the arrangements inperspective, that she entirely forgot the fact that she was leaving, perhaps for ever, her parent's roof; and was about to commence a lifesubjected to dangers and inconveniences, which she, even native bornthough she was, was totally unacquainted with. With her parents, however, it was far different; for they had been fully informed by Johnwhat sort of a place it was their daughter was going to. Her father, tosay nothing of the regret which he felt in parting with his child, experienced some remorse in consigning her to the discomfort of a wildand unsettled country. At the same time he was convinced she would beunder good protection, and reconciled himself to the separation by thethought that probably the responsibility of managing the domesticestablishment of her brothers would, in a great measure, prepare her fora more permanent station in life; and, in fact, rub off the lingeringsigns of childhood, and perfect her in a womanly capacity. 

The feelings which agitated the breast of her mother, when she partedwith her darling daughter, we cannot pretend to describe. We know thatmaternals usually give indications of unbounded grief at parting fromtheir tender offspring, even upon the consummation of their earthlyhappiness. It may possibly arise from grief at the segregation of onenot only made dear by the ties of parental and filial affection, butfrom the mutual companionship, reliance, and confidence that existbetween mother and daughter; possibly it may be for the trials anddangers that beset the young creatures' paths in the commencement oftheir independent career; or, there may be an alloy of selfishness inthe feeling. But certain it is, it is one of the mysteries of the femalecharacter; which, though to us inexplicable, we revere; and, consequently, we sympathize with, and respect the ebullition of Mrs. Ferguson's grief, as she wept over her charming daughter, when the youngand inexperienced girl was about leaving her protection. Many were herparental admonitions to Kate for her guidance and good, and numerous herinjunctions to William for her care and preservation. Never was there akinder-hearted affectionate parent than this, and never were brother andsister more fondly attached. The mother knowing this, and confident thather son William would, if necessary, offer himself a self-immolatedvictim, sooner than any evil should happen to his charge, felt littleapprehension for her daughter's safety. 

The travelling party, consisting of Kate, her brother, and Mr. Wigton, were shortly on the road, and journeyed till night without theoccurrence of any event worth recording; until, as darkness closed o'erthe landscape, they entered the town of Warwick, and put up at the"Bullock's Head. " Here William renewed the acquaintance of his oldfriend the Warwick Ganymede, "Hopping Dick;" and after recommending tothe especial attention of Mr. Wigton and his sister the artistic displayon the coffee-room walls, the rural combination of beauty and innocenceon the mantelpiece, with their rotund neighbour, the guardian of the"spills, " he gave instructions to the landlord's representative abouttheir accommodation, and proceeded to the stable to satisfy himself thathis horses were being well looked after; knowing that, unless he did so, the attention and provender they would receive would be scanty in theextreme. 

On the present occasion, fortunately for our friends, the bovine craniumwas empty, and William was in high spirits. He had had seriousmisgivings at the outset of his journey in taking his sister to such aplace, from the scene he had on his previous visit seen enacted in it. But the domiciliary selection having a contingency attached to itsimilar to that which stultified the choice of that immortal, though, wefear, mythical individual, yclept Hobson, he had no alternative but torun the risk of annoyance in this favourite hostel. William, therefore, was happy at the thought that there would be no fear of molestation;and, Warwick being the only stage where they would have to quarter at aninn, he felt no apprehension for his sister's comfort during theirfurther progress. 

Hopping Dick speedily made his appearance to arrange the table for theirrepast, while William amused himself by eliciting information from himof a various nature, by questions put to the fellow as he continued tohover between the coffee-room and the pantry. 

"Have you had any exploits lately, Dick, " said he, "similar to thatwhich I witnessed on the first night I stopped here? You remember when Imean, " continued William, as he remarked the man's abstraction, as if inthought to what or which exploit he had referred; "I mean when you hadthe table smashed. "

"By the gent as tried to take his horse over it?" enquired thesalient-gaited waiter. 

"Exactly, " replied his interlocutor. 

"No, sir; we ain't had no more just like that 'un lately, not sichroarers. I s'pose ye know, sir, that 'ere gent, Mr. Smith, what the'orse belonged to, is dead?"

"No, " replied William, "I do not. Pray, how might that have happened?"

"Why, you see, sir, he stopped here for about a week, for he wasuncommon fond of a spree, and he never reached home after that. His'orse comed on to the station one day without him, and with the saddletwisted right round, and hanging under his belly. So ye see, sir, hispeople fancied he had got a 'buster' somehow, and went a-search of him, but couldn't find him nohow. They comed in here then, and found out whatway he took; and, with some black fellows, they, after a while, foundhis track, and run it down till they found him as quiet as you please onthe broad of his back, with his head cracked. He was a bit fresh when heleft here, so they thought he might a' been going home, some'ut madlike, and got a 'spill, ' which cook'd him. Howsomdever, he spent hismoney like a real gent, and I'm precious sorry he's dead; for he wasuncom'n good to me, and a good 'un for custom to the master; the likesof him ain't seen every day. "

Even grieved as William was to hear of the melancholy and untimely endof such a man; cut off in the prime of life while in the mad pursuit ofa delirious career, he could not help indulging in a smile at thestrange sophistry of his companion, who imagined that a lavish waste ofsubstance was the constituted act of a gentleman; and at the selfishnessof the fellow who regretted the death of the man only in so far as itaffected the pocket of himself and his employer. But he reflected it wasthe way of the world; clothe the feeling how he would; and he felt nodoubt that perhaps with the solitary exception of a doating parent whomight mourn his death in a far distant land, the man would pass fromthis earth without the regret of a mortal; and without leaving theremembrance of a virtue, or good action, to perpetuate his memory. 

"Then, I suppose, Dick, " continued William, "you have been quieterlately, since Mr. Smith was killed. "

"Yes, sir, we've been somewhat quieter of late, " replied the man; "butwe expect to get a turn again soon. The shearers round the stations willbe done their work shortly, and they'll be in with their cheques. Someon 'em a' done already; for we had a party in last week of about eight, and they only went away yesterday. "

"And I suppose spent their money too, like real gentleman, eh, Dick?"said William laughing. 

"Why, sir, " replied the man, "some on 'em did knock down their pile, andwhen they left here they was regularly cleared out. "

"And how much had they spent individually do you think?" enquired theyoung squatter. 

"That I couldn't exactly say, " replied the other; "some on 'em knockeddown twenty pounds or so, but some on 'em stuck to their tin, as theywas a going down the country. "

"Probably it was the intention of the whole party to go down the countryuntil they came here; don't you think so, Dick?" asked William. 

"Praps it was, sir, but some on 'em had to go back agin to work, "naively replied the Ganymede. 

"But how on earth could one man spend twenty pounds in a week, bymerely drinking?" enquired William. 

"Easy enough, sir, " replied the fellow; "some of those chaps, when theyget the drink in 'em, will 'shout' for the whole town; and you know itain't our buisness to stop 'em; we only sells the grog, and they buyit. "

William had often heard of such practices as these where poor deludedwretches, after toiling hard to obtain their wages, had no soonerreceived a cheque or draft from their employers in settlement of whatwas due them, than they would rush to the first public-house; and, placing their cheque in the hands of the publican, would commence acourse of mad dissipation; merely requesting to be informed when themoney was expended. This had been told him, and also that the victims, after being kept in a state of delirium for a week or so, had itintimated to them that their funds were exhausted; that they had been"shouting" to all the town, or in other words, that they had beenproviding drink to all who chose to partake; in which belief they werecompelled to be satisfied and take their departure. Not only twenty, butoften fifty, and even a hundred pounds, he had heard had been embezzledfrom men under such circumstances; and though he had never before seeninstances to warrant his belief in such statements, he was now convincedof the existence of the iniquitous system; for this satellite of thedemon had admitted the fact, and spoken of it as the mere course ofbusiness. William felt disgusted with the cool infamy of the fellow, andat the magnitude and effrontery of the publican's dishonesty. It wasmelancholy for him, as for any sentient creature, to contemplate theblind infatuation with which bushmen generally squander their money; or, more properly speaking, allow themselves to be robbed of it. Yet theyare willing victims, while there is neither protection for them, norpunishment for the men whose criminality is so glaring. 

Such were William's thoughts as Mr. Wigton entered the room. To theclergyman our young friend communicated the conversation he had had withthe waiter; and for sometime, until they were joined by Kate, the twogentlemen discussed the nature of that evil, which they both lamented;without being able to clearly define a means for the extrication of theunfortunate class. 

"I can very well see, " remarked Mr. Wigton, "the impulse under whichthese persons act. They are placed suddenly in possession of money; inthe control of which they have previously had no experience; and, carried away by the advice, and influenced by the example of associates, they first learn that extravagance which ends in an improvidence thatleaves them continually without a shilling. If they have any idea ofbeing saving they are at a loss how to invest their savings; for nomeans present themselves; their opportunities of purchasing lands, onwhich to settle, are so rare that they hardly believe its possessionwithin the range of possibility; and they consequently submit to thedecrees of evil. Being without the benefit of good advice, and theapplication of sound precepts, they see no other course open to them, but a reckless expenditure of their hard-earned gains. "

"But do you not think, my dear sir, " said William, "that some meanscould be devised to cultivate a feeling of prudence in these men? canthey not be induced to abandon their suicidal extravagance?"

"Yes, certainly, " replied his companion, "means could be adopted; butunless the matter is taken up by the employers, or our legislators, Ifear nothing will ever be done to ransom the men. Besides, I believe thesquatters consider it to their interest to nourish the practice, as itkeeps the men more dependent upon them. If the employers could bepersuaded to interest themselves on the subject I would hope for betterthings. Many plans would be useful, such as the establishment ofsavings banks for instance; but the principal, the desideratum in fact, is the facile procuration of cheap land. A man should be able at anymoment to go to the survey office, or some local agent, and select apiece of land that would be suitable for agriculture; and be at libertyat once to take possession, and commence cultivation. Such would be thebest means of ensuring thriftiness; and, until we obtain some suchsystem, I fear we may labour in vain to induce economy. Not that thedifficulty is insuperable. I have fortunately been the humble instrumentof arresting many poor men from such headlong folly; by first inducingthem to feel a disgust for the filthy and degrading dissipation whichthey indulge in. But I have never been able to give any advice in thedisposal of their means, from the fact that I know of no channels intowhich to divert them. "

At this point, the discussion ceased by the entrance of Kate, and thetrio sat down to their meal, undisturbed by the presence of strangers;and as the topics of the conversation which ensued, though exceedinglyanimated and interesting to the parties engaged in it, are not at allpertinent to our story, nor would be interesting to our readers, we maybe permitted to draw a veil over the scene, until the conclusion of therepast. 

William had a strong desire to question the strange character who waitedat table; firmly believing him to be an infamous scoundrel, thoughgifted in a vicious lore, out of which our young friend had a wish toextract information. For this purpose, soon after the clearance of thecloth, he rose from the table, and leaving his sister in the society ofMr. Wigton, followed Dick into his own regions. Having lit his pipe atthe kitchen fire, he took his seat to wait until Hopping Dick wassufficiently disengaged to admit of his answering his interrogations. The fellow himself seemed to like being drawn into conversation, andWilliam had therefore little difficulty in inducing him to becommunicative; for by the aid of a stiff glass of grog, or as we wouldsay, in the parlance of the country, "a ball, " Dick's heart wassoftened; and he smiled his satisfaction in a sardonic grin, which hadanything but amiability in its expression. Having finished thesatisfying of his own inward man; and commenced the indulgence of addinghis contribution to the general nicotian pregnated atmosphere, whileproceeding about his vocation, he replied to William's various questionswith a wonderful alacrity and volubility, strangely contrasting with thetaciturn moroseness which had appeared to be his usual manner. Warmedwith the genial influence of the spirituous unction, his bosom, if hewas possessed of such a divison of anatomy, was opened to his youngcompanion; and he not only gave him a perfect outline of his ownhistory, but a synopsis of that of his master, together with otherparticulars, various and heterogeneous. As the reader may desire somelittle acquaintance of Dick's career, we will detail it; and, to savethe infliction of that individual's verbosity and jargon, render hisnarrative into a more comprehensive vernacular; prefacing it with theremark, that the adventures of the narrator must not be considered as arule, or a characteristic of the inhabitants of the colony. Hopping Dickwas an exception; he was in fact one of the last specimens of a class, now happily nearly extinct. 

Hopping Dick was a "lag" and a "lifer;" or to be more explicit, he wasone of those gentlemen who "leave their country for their country'sgood, " and whose period of expatriation is for the term of their naturallives. What was the nature of the offence that caused his transportationwe are unable to say positively, though we can form a pretty shrewdopinion. By his own account, all the justiciary of England conspired inunholy league to effect his ruin, and did not rest until they hadaccomplished their dread designs. Though we have no doubt he was veryhardly dealt with in the deprivation of his liberty, we stronglysuspect our friend had a predilection for visiting the domiciles of hisfellow citizens, slightly in opposition to their wishes; and dropping inat most unseasonable hours, by means of some instrumental application ofhis own, detrimental to the locks and fastenings of such dwellings. Inaddition to this, he sometimes had a playful manner of titulating thecraniums of his friends, so visited, with a toyish sort of article hewas induced to carry on his person for his own vital preservation. 

It was on one occasion when he was going to see "his gal" (he said), wholived in a fashionable locality of London, he had been kept pretty latewith some of his friends (or "pals, " as he vulgarly designated them), and when he got to her house he discovered she had forgotten to leavethe door open for him; but being pretty well acquainted with thataccomplishment of the "force, " area scaling, and being supplied with hisown latch-key, he did not think much of her neglect. But, strange tosay, and considerably to the astonishment of Dick, the head of thefamily had a strong objection to that individual's visiting his ladyelove; and absolutely mistaking him for a common burglar, seized him, with _malice prepensé_, to hand him over to "the perlice. " Dick, underthese circumstances, had no alternative but to knock his assailant down;but the screaming that was made in the house caused the appearance ofthose metropolitan enemies of freedom, the "peelers, " who marched himoff in custody. He was tried by a jury of his countrymen, who were sofar biassed by his arch-enemy the judge, as to convict him of burglary, which resulted in the provision of a free passage for him to the risingsettlement of Botany Bay. Upon his arrival at his destination ourunfortunate friend was drafted to the penal settlement on the Hunterriver; where he remained some time, until he was made over as an"assigned servant" to a settler in that district. 

The master to whom Dick was assigned, like many more in the country, was one who had received a large grant of land from the government, andwas clearing and putting under cultivation a considerable portion by thelabour of the convicts; who were at that time assigned by the governmentto any settler who would undertake to clothe and feed them. Under such asystem, as might be imagined, the convict's apparel was of the meanesttexture, and their food of the coarsest description; and while they weremade to work under the terror of the lash, and the eye of an overseer(often excelling in barbarous cruelty the vaunted atrocities of theAmerican slave-drivers), flagellation was the ordeal they were almostconstantly permeating. 

Dick had not been long with his new master before he discovered thenature of the tyranny to which he would be subjected. His first taste ofhis penal life was on an occasion when he complained to the overseer ofthe nature of the tools with which he was working. Such flagrantpresumption could not, of course, be tolerated; the overseer reportedhim to the master; the master laid a charge of insubordination againsthim before the magistrate, and he was forthwith visited with the duepunishment of the law, in the shape of fifty lashes; after which, withhis body bleeding and lacerated, he was sent back to his work. 

It is impossible to picture, with sufficient force, the horrors andatrocities of the penal times. We do not consider ourselves adequate tothe task of exposure and condemnation; but, though we do not approve alife of ease and comfort accorded to condemned felons, we unhesitatinglyaffirm, that in most, if not all cases, the cruel treatment which theconvicts underwent, instead of having a penitential influence, onlyserved to harden them in their iniquities; and while they frequentlybecame perfectly callous to the infliction of punishment, they weredebased to the incarnation of fiends, merely wanting in the opportunityto perpetrate the most atrocious villanies in retribution. 

If Dick had ever entertained any disposition of a reformatory nature, itwas entirely dissipated by his early experience. He only waited theauspicious moment when he could follow the steps of hundreds of otherswho had been similarly situated, but had escaped to become"bush-rangers, " and the terror of the country. An opportunity was notlong in presenting itself; and he, with a party of six as desperateruffians as himself, contrived to elude the vigilance of their masters, and get into the bush. Their sufferings and privations were extreme;little short of the hateful servitude from which they fled; but theypreferred anything, even death itself, rather than return to arepetition of their bondage. Their escape, however, was soon detected, and they were pursued by a small company of military; who succeeded insurprising them in the mountains, and upon their attempting to escape, fired upon them. In this recontre two of the convicts were killed, andthree others were wounded. Of these, Dick was one, for he received ashot in the knee from which he never thoroughly recovered; while themuscular contraction that ensued, from the want of surgical treatment, caused the deformity which gave rise to his appellation. 

When he was retaken and brought back to the settlement, he was thrownback again upon the government, and put into the "chain-gang, " where heworked in irons with the other incorrigibles. From this, after a while, he was transferred to a quarry party, and again made over to a settleras an assigned servant. His treatment from this master was even moretyrannical than he had experienced before; for the most imaginaryoffence, and frequently for no offence at all, but just at the capriceof the master, he was treated to various applications of the lash, andrestricted allowances of his miserable rations. His slavery was the mostabject, his misery the most consummate, and his degradation the mostvenal and depraved: he was the image of the man without the mentalspark; the human being in semblance, but the brute in reality. 

The character of Dick's employer was well known; and hardened as allwere by the repetition of scenes that would have made the heart of anovice sicken, most, even of the officials, looked upon him as too harshand cruel, though none attempted to check his insatiable inhumanity. Acircumstance, however, transpired, which speedily brought this state ofthings to a crisis. Dick had only returned one day from the "triangle, "with his body lacerated by the punishment he had been undergoing, whenhe was ordered by his master to instantly resume his labour, while hetaunted him and laughed at his emaciated appearance. The heat of the sunwas oppressive, and Dick, though he had borne unflinchingly theinfliction of the lash, was sick at heart, and debilitated by the lossof blood. All his evil passions were aroused within him; and it wasonly with an unwilling hand and suppressed oath of threatened vengeancethat he resumed his work; while his tormentor continued to goad him witha recollection of his past and present misery, and a prospect of freshtorture. The unfeeling wretch continued his banter until human naturecould bear it no longer, and with the spade which he held in his hand, Dick clove the skull of his inordinate persecutor. He never attempted toescape from the fate which he knew awaited him; but permitted himself tobe led quietly to that confinement which he was aware would onlyterminate with the close of his life. He remained in durance for somemonths or so, during which his master hovered between life and death;who, when he was sufficiently recovered to be enabled to move about, wasgratified by having the unfortunate criminal brought to justice. 

In those days the laws against the convicts were very summary; shortwork was made of those with whom the rulers experienced much trouble;and in a case like this, where a prisoner attempted the life of a freesettler, his doom was fixed before he was placed at the bar; nothing buthis life could expiate for such a crime. Dick well knew this, and alsothat if there were any mitigating circumstances, his master would spareno trouble in securing his execution; he was not therefore at allsurprised that he was sentenced to the extreme rigour of the law. However, death appeared to the miserable culprit only a release from hisbodily suffering; and he hailed its consummation with more delight thanhe had experienced in any of his earthly pursuits; but his sufferingswere not yet at an end. His execution was fixed; notwithstanding thatsome slight effort was made to save him by some persons more humane thantheir compeers, and who knew the character of the victim's persecutor;and he was led away to the final scene of his drama. Before theadjustment of the hempen order he was enlivened by the brutal taunts andlampoons of his master; who, forgetful of his own narrow escape fromthe grave, jested, with an unparalleled coarseness, on the fate awaitingthe condemned wretch before him. 

The signal was given; the bolt was withdrawn; and Dick, with the hoarselaugh of his master ringing in his ears, was launched into the air, ifnot into eternity. But by some gross mismanagement the culprit's feetcame in contact with the ground; while his ears continued to be assailedwith the blaspheming raillery of the man, who was equally deserving ofsuch a fate. In this position the unfortunate wretch remained, until ahole was dug to make his suspension complete; and he was again launchedforth; though with no better success. The authorities were by this timefelt to be in a fix; but the victim was not to escape, at least, so saidthe master; who with an oath, volunteered to finish the work himself. Carrying his offer into execution, he mounted the rope that suspendedthe criminal, and added his weight by standing on the man's shoulders, to effect a dislocation, or strangulation. But he was again frustrated;for the rope, which had done service on many similar occasions, gave wayunder the additional weight; and both were precipitated into the pit, amidst the oaths and imprecations of the one, and the groans andlamentations of the other. 

The body of the half strangled man was then removed; while freshexertions were made to obtain his reprieve; this time with a betterresult; and, notwithstanding the strenuous opposition of the master, Dick's life was spared; though it was only to undergo the horrors of astricter servitude. This he bore for some three years; and if by thattime, he was not reformed, he was certainly subdued; while his apparentdocility, being construed into reformation, had the effect of causing arelaxation of the rigid discipline under which he had been placed. Hewas relieved from the irons in which he worked, and was permitted theuse of his limbs with more freedom; while the use nht psoe hwi cfirt htth em (after he was transferred to the new settlement of Moreton Bay), was to escape into the bush. For years nothing further was heard of him;and, by those who troubled themselves to bestow a thought upon him, hewas supposed to have perished. But, after the abandonment of thesettlement as a penal depot, when it was thrown open to the public, areport was brought in that, in a distant part of the country, a whiteman was living with the blacks in perfect nudity; and, from his longexposure to the sun, almost of a colour with his companions. He was saidto be robust looking, but with a malformation by which one of his legswas longer than the other. The description answered to the escapedconvict, Dick; and, the circumstances having been communicated to thegovernment, a party was sent in quest of him. After some trouble he wasdiscovered, and brought into the settlement; but the results of his pastlife with the blacks were, that he had entirely forgotten his mothertongue, and had acquired new ways and sympathies that long deterred himfrom assimilating to those of the whites. Considering his many andpeculiar vicissitudes, a remission of the penalty to which he was liablewas obtained from the Crown; and a perpetual ticket-of-leave was grantedhim, provided that he remained in the district of Moreton Bay. 

Such then was the career of this character related by himself toWilliam, as the latter sat listening to him; and though his sufferingshad been fearful, and his escapes miraculous, the catalogue of histrials was only a counterpart of hundreds or thousands of his fellowswho had either died under their servitude, or become scourges to thecountry. Numerous are the instances of the atrocious barbarities of asystem, which for iniquity had no parallel; but it is not our object toenlarge on the dismal subject; and, as we may have occasion to revert toit again, for the present we will dismiss it from our thoughts. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

 "Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide, He wales a portion with judicious care; And 'let us worship God' he says with solemn air. "

 BURNS. 

The party at the "Bullock's Head" retired early to rest in order toproceed on their journey at a corresponding hour on the followingmorning. They slept and rose, breakfasted and resumed their travel; andthe same afternoon arrived at Barra Warra, where they were welcomed bytheir kind-hearted friends, the Dawsons. It is needless for us here todetail the circumstances of the visit; suffice it to say, that the ladyof the house and Kate Ferguson at once established their friendship ona firm basis; and the gentlemen passed their time pleasantly, and in amanner congenial to their respective tastes. The only event during theperiod of their sojourn, which we deem necessary to narrate, is that ofpreaching in the bush. 

A day or two after their arrival--on a Sunday morning--Mr. Dawson placedhis large wool-shed, which at the time was nearly empty, at the disposalof Mr. Wigton, for the purpose of there holding Divine service; and hegave intimation on the station that such would take place. Though Mr. Dawson was a conscientious adherent of the Anglican church, he was notone of those who, in the absence of a place of worship where theadoration is conducted not strictly in accordance with the prescribedformulæ of his church, would abstain from attendance on any otherdenominational service. He was devoid of such bigotry; and considered ita duty, when an opportunity of public worship presented itself (eventhough the minister officiating was not deemed perfectly orthodox bythe tenets of the Episcopalian creed), to avail himself of it. Wheremeans of ministration were rare, he considered sectarian distinctionsprejudicial to the cause of the gospel, and deemed the only essential tobe an earnest truthfulness and piety on the part of the clergyman. Healways encouraged the ordinances of religion on his station, and theinculcation of moral principles among his men. 

The Sabbath was one of those lovely days so peculiar to the sunnyregions of favoured Australia. The sky was without a cloud to vary itsunbroken and immaculate azure, and the sun shone with a voluptuouslustre, which rendered the atmosphere warm, though not oppressive, andthe face of the country smiling and cheerful. The people around theplace--men, women, and children, clean and neatly clad--assembled in anorderly manner; while the sombre stillness of the bush tended to impressthe beholders with an earnestness, a feeling of devotion, and aconfirmed belief, that, verily, "the Spirit of the Lord moved upon theface of the earth. " There are, we venture to say, few more inspiringscenes than the performance of Divine service, or "a preaching, " in thewilds of the woods; and we believe the spiritual influence was felt thatday by not a few of the number who listened to the exposition of theWord, which was delivered from the lips of the preacher with a truth andpathos characteristic of a sincere and devout mind. The same orderly andsober manner marked the dispersion of the people, as did theirgathering; and if no spiritual good arose from it (though we sincerelytrust and believe there did), in a moral point of view the people reapeda reward; and by the same means, indirectly, the squatter was benefited. 

These preachings contrast pleasingly with the general thoughtless andfrivolous manner of some of the congregations in our large towns, and itis only to be regretted that they are not of more frequent occurrence. Nothing would more greatly tend to advance the morals of those people ofAustralia who too frequently live in a state of vitiated depravity andmental degradation, and who are perfectly destitute of religion, andignorant and neglectful of its observances. 

When William and his party had remained at Barra Warra for about a weekhe thought it time to push forward to his home; and, after some littlepersuasion with Mrs. Dawson, induced her to part with his sister, andthe young lady to consent to go. They took their leave amidst a generalexpression of cordiality, and an entreaty from their kind friends tofind their way back again as soon as possible. They then proceeded ontheir way, Kate more than ever delighted with her prospect. In thespontaneous ebullition of her youthful and innocent feelings, andcharmed beyond measure at the kind reception she had met with from theamiable people she had just left, she was in the highest spirits, andgave frequent vent to her joy. Her merry peals of laughter rang throughthe woods with an echo that sounded as if all the trees had taken up thechorus, and supported her in bursts of silvery-toned cachinnations. Shetalked and chatted away the time, asking questions of her brotherrespecting the Smitherses and the Rainsfields, and requesting him todraw comparisons between the two families and that which they had latelyleft. This task William professed himself unable to accomplish, andunwilling to attempt; remarking that "comparisons were odious, " and thathis sister would be able to judge for herself if she would exercise alittle patience. 

The road was quickly travelled over; and our friends comfortablycompleted that day's stage, and found themselves at Brompton beforedark. They were welcomed by Mr. And Mrs. Smithers in as friendly amanner as William had anticipated; but upon Kate and Mr. Wigton beingintroduced as strangers to Bob, he muttered some unintelligiblesentence, turned on his heel, and left the room. Such extraordinaryconduct rather surprised the Fergusons, especially William; who, whenlast he had seen him, parted from him in perfect good feeling. Theproprietor of the station and his wife were not only astonished, butexceedingly chagrined to think that their visitors should have receivedso gross an insult from a member of their family. Without entering intoany vituperations on Bob's conduct, they apologised to their friends forhis inexplicable behaviour, stating their inability to assign any reasonfor it beyond his extraordinary temper, and expressing many regrets forits occurrence. 

The Fergusons professed to think nothing of it, and begged their friendsto take no heed of the circumstance, as it gave them, personally, noconcern; being convinced that it could not have been the intention ofMr. Smithers' brother to have meditated any insult. Notwithstanding alltheir assurances that they in no way felt annoyed, they could notremove from the minds of their hosts the impression that they hadreceived an unwarrantable insult; and the culprit not "entering anappearance" again, and no explanation being forthcoming, the eveningpassed very heavily, and a general relief was experienced by the partywhen they separated for the night. 

On the following morning the Fergusons and Mr. Wigton resumed theirjourney, and the spirit of their travelling contrasted greatly with thatof the previous day. They had parted from the Smitherses on very goodterms; but Bob had continued to absent himself, and there was a gloomthrown over the parting in consequence. 

"What a horrid bear that man is, " exclaimed Kate, as she rode betweenthe other two equestrians. "What could have induced him to be so rude?Have you any idea, Will?"

William certainly had an idea, and it grieved him much to contemplateit, for he thought he read in the occurrence a rupture between hisbrother and Bob Smithers. But he was deep in thought when his sisteraddressed him, and not until she had repeated her question did he makeany reply; and that reply, if not strictly the truth, was, he thought, the best he could make, rather than by uttering his convictions, toexcite the fears of his sister for her brother John. 

"No, my Kate, I do not, " replied William, "but what does it signify? Wehave no occasion to trouble ourselves about the circumstance. BobSmithers was exceedingly ungentlemanly in his behaviour; but I believehe is proverbial for that sort of conduct, so I think we need not givethe matter any further thought. Do you, Mr. Wigton?"

"You are quite right, William, " replied the minister, "the folly orfrivolity of the man, for at most it is only such, should not be allowedto give us any uneasiness. If it was intended to convey any insult, wecan best show our appreciation of it by allowing it at once to sink intooblivion; but I have no doubt it may be attributable to hisextraordinary manner, which, you say, is customary. "

"Well, " said Kate, "I'll tell Miss Rainsfield of the manner in which hetreated us; it is only right that she should know what a ruffian he is. "

"Now, my thoughtless little sister, you must do no such thing, " said herbrother; "rather studiously avoid mentioning anything at Strawberry Hilldisparaging of Bob Smithers. Miss Rainsfield must be better acquaintedwith the gentleman's character and manner than either you or I; and therelation of any such affront as we have received might cause herconsiderable and unnecessary pain. "

"Nonsense, William, " cried the girl. "Miss Rainsfield ought to know howhe acts to strangers, because, I am sure, he'll always behave himselfbefore her; and I am convinced if she only knew what a bear he is, shewould not have anything to say to him. "

"Kate, " remarked Mr. Wigton, "William is quite right; it would bebetter to say nothing about the affair, if, as I imagine from yourconversation, this young lady entertains any regard for Mr. Smithers. She must be better acquainted with his feelings than we; consequently, we should avoid the possibility of creating any contentions between thefamilies; while, after all, there might have been nothing in his mannerdeserving animadversion. "

"I think I can see the drift of my fair sister's plan, " said William toMr. Wigton; "she has taken a fancy to Bob Smithers herself, and shethinks by telling this dreadful tragedy to Miss Rainsfield, that younglady will be induced to discard him, and leave the coast open to ourKate. "

"You are a most impertinent fellow, " exclaimed Kate, as she attempted tolay her whip across the shoulders of her brother. "I detest the man; andif he were to make himself as pleasant and agreeable as it is possiblefor any man to be, I could not endure him. "

"Never mind, my pretty Flora, " said her brother, "we will not submit youto the infliction; but promise to say nothing to the Rainsfields of theaffair at Brompton. "

"If you particularly wish it, " replied Kate, "I will hold my tongue; butI cannot imagine for why. But tell me, " said she, as her usual smilereturned to its wonted place, "how long shall we be before we arrive atStrawberry Hill?"

"Not until late, " said William, "unless we mend our pace, so we hadbetter push on;" with which remark he put spurs to his horse, and rodeat a brisk rate followed hard by his companions. 

Well on in the afternoon they arrived at Strawberry Hill; and the firstinmate of the house who presented himself was Tom Rainsfield, whograsped the hand of William, and was introduced by him to Kate and Mr. Wigton. The former he expressed much delight in seeing, and stated hehad been looking out anxiously for her arrival, and would at onceconstitute himself her protector and most obedient servant. With suchlittle blandishments he led the arrivals into the house; and presentedwith due solemnity the treasure, that he said had been consigned to hiskeeping, to his sister-in-law and his cousin. The ladies at oncereceived Kate with that affectionate welcome inherent in women; and, relieving Tom of his self-imposed responsibility, disappeared with herto one of those secret conferences, the mysteries of which we masculinemortals are destined always to remain in profound ignorance. 

The gentlemen then issued through the French light, and passed from theroom to the verandah that encompassed the house. Tom brought out chairs, and desired his visitors to be seated for a few minutes, until theladies returned, while he went in search of his brother to acquaint himof their arrival. 

In a short time Mrs. Rainsfield and her companions made their appearanceall radiant with smiles, and their faces beaming with expressions ofgood feeling; shortly after which Tom joined them with Mr. Rainsfield, who received the travellers with a politeness that struck William ashaving some degree of formality in it. However, a repast was speedilyprepared and set upon the table, to which all sat down; when everythingwas cordiality; and after spending a very pleasant and agreeableevening, the party broke up at an hour rather late for weary wayfarers. But the gentlemen expressed themselves free from fatigue; and Kate, whowas really a good equestrian, so enjoyed the society of Mrs. Rainsfield, and had become so attached to Eleanor, that the moments seemed to fly bywith an almost incredible velocity. Not till Mr. Rainsfield had morethan once reminded his wife that it was approaching midnight, did theladies take the hint to separate. Then the matron followed by the twogirls, with their arms encircling each others waists, made their exit;while Tom's eyes followed them with looks of admiration. 

In the morning they all assembled at the table; and without tiring thereader with the conversation that was carried on, or the entire detailof their plans, which were discussed over the morning meal, we will givea synopsis of the whole in a few words. It was arranged that William, his sister, and Mr. Wigton, accompanied by Tom and Mrs. Rainsfield, should ride over to Fern Vale. William and Mr. Wigton were to remainthere with John, while the rest of the party returned to StrawberryHill. Mr. Wigton had declined the invitation of the Rainsfields toremain with them for a short time on the ground that he would not havelong to remain in their quarter, and he wished to devote as much aspossible of his time to his young friends. Kate was to fulfil herpromised visit until her brother's house was ready for her reception. 

The arrangements for the passage over to Fern Vale pleased all partiesbut Kate, who had been industriously persevering to induce Eleanor toaccompany them. But her friend had excused herself on the plea that shevery rarely rode, was not at all a good horsewoman, and almostinvariably felt ill after a ride. So Kate, finding entreaty useless, wasconstrained to do without the companionship of her friend. The partytook their departure early in the forenoon, without seeing Mr. Rainsfield; who, they understood, was engaged with some person, Mr. Billing had sent word to say, had been waiting to see him. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

 "Nature, indeed, denies them sense, But gives them legs and impudence, That beats all understanding. "

 WILLIAMS. 

When the black boy, whom John Ferguson had named Billy, was released byhis captors, after the castigation we have seen him subjected to byRainsfield and Smithers, he made the best of his way to Fern Vale; andthere, with his bleeding back substantiating his statement, told histale of woe. John and his friend Tom Rainsfield could hardly credittheir sight; the latter especially, who could not think but that if hisbrother had any hand in the barbarity it must have been as a passiveinstrument at the disposal of Smithers. The young men felt for the pooraboriginal, and in their sympathy tended his wounds and gave him whatassistance they could. With the black the injury sank deep into hisheart; savage as he was he felt the ignominy of his treatment; and hecherished that feeling of deep revenge which is innate in the natures ofall God's creatures, but especially in those, who like the savage, havenever had an ethic inculcation to restrain their passions. He gave ventto his agony, as he lay prostrate on his pallet, in wails of anguish andvituperative mutterings; uttered in the unintelligibleness of his ownlanguage. 

After the subsiding of the first surprise and indignation the agitationof his own thoughts too much occupied John's mind to admit of his beingmuch diverted by the sorrows of his black boy; and Tom was too muchaffected by the dejectedness of his friend to entertain any lastingconcern for the sable sufferer. As he sat ruminating on the incidentsof the day, until he fell into a reverie almost as deep as one of thoseindulged in by his companion, he roused himself by uttering thefollowing exordium: "Cheer up, John, my dear fellow; don't permityourself to feel disappointed, for I am sure from the glimpse Eleanorhas had to-day of Smithers' real nature she cannot entertain any respectfor him; and, as for her ridiculous persistence in binding herself to afoolish engagement, I have no doubt she will now see the necessity ofabandoning it. "

"My dear Tom, " replied the other, "I cannot consent to oppose the claimsof Bob Smithers so long as Eleanor herself holds them sacred. Sheadmitted her engagement to him in his and my presence, and at the sametime abstained from giving me any direct answer to my proposal; Iimagine, as she thought, to avoid paining my feelings; so I must notdare to hope. "

"That's all moonshine, " cried Tom, "banish the idea of Bob Smithers fromyour head altogether. You say Eleanor gave you no direct answer to yourentreaties; I don't profess to be a judge in such matters, but itappears to me her hesitation was not disadvantageous to you. If thatruffian had not appeared I am sure you would have overcome all herscruples. Persevere John! you know the adage, 'faint heart never wonfair lady;' rouse yourself, and act upon it, and I will stake myexistence on the result. "

"I cannot, Tom, " replied his friend. "I assure you, I cannot; I have ahigher opinion of Eleanor's integrity than to think she would beinfluenced by my entreaties to reject Smithers merely from our littlefracas yesterday. She distinctly informed me she was engaged to him, andI am bound in honour to respect her judgment. If I ever had reason tobelieve her determination would alter I might hope; but no, I see noprospect. "

"You are too nice, " exclaimed Tom, "upon the point of honour, as youcall it. Her engagement I look upon as a mere phantasy, which she willbe convinced of ere long. All you have to consider is, whether or notshe will accept you. You have had no answer from her you say; then takean early opportunity of seeing her, and pressing for a reply. If youwill not plead for yourself I will for you; and shall point out to herthe absurdity and absolute sinfulness of discarding you for that objectof conceited inanition, Bob Smithers. "

"Much as I would desire the reversion of the decree that forbids me hopethat Eleanor will be mine, " replied John, "I would much rather that youdid not agitate her by adverting to the subject in her hearing, as itcannot fail to renew unpleasant reminiscences. "

"Well, perhaps it would be better, " said Tom, "to let it remain as it isfor a short time; and if you promise me to keep up your spirits, andhope for a better state of things, I will engage not to disturb herunnecessarily. Why, I'll stake anything you like on it, she is thinkingof you at this very moment; and will no more marry Bob Smithers than Iwill the ghostly Meg Merillies. "

With a sickly smile from the forlorn lover the conversation ceased forthe time; and the friends shortly afterwards retired to seek the restthey respectively stood in need of. On the following morning Tomreturned to Strawberry Hill; while John, upon busying himself on thestation, learnt that the black boy Billy had disappeared in the night;and that Jemmy, his companion, professed to know nothing about him. Calling in the aid of Joey he was enabled to trace the track of thefugitive to the river; from which circumstance he conjectured that Billyhad waited for the dawn of morning; when he had taken his departure withthe intention of joining his tribe. Upon making this discovery he feltconsiderable annoyance, as the black had began to be useful, and wouldin all probability be followed by his companion. He could not helpfeeling disgusted at the treatment the poor fellow had received; and sofar as he was personally concerned, he felt himself justified inresenting the conduct of his neighbour; which he determined to take theearliest opportunity of stigmatizing, and condemning in the strongestpossible terms. As he had anticipated, the other black soon followed hisfellow, and he was consequently put to considerable inconvenience by thedeprivation of their labour. 

Nearly a week had elapsed after this, and Tom Rainsfield had ridden overto Fern Vale to spend a little spare time with his friend, and cheer himin his solitude. "My brother, " said he, "has been again annoyed by theblacks. They have paid him another visit, and seem determined tocultivate his acquaintance more closely than hitherto. I expect thatfellow of yours has given his relatives a feeling account of hisreception at our place, and also as to the exact position of the store. In their late visit, they were in considerable numbers (I presume toprotect themselves against a general flogging), and they have ventedtheir displeasure in a manner most conducive to their happiness, byappropriating what of our stores they could conveniently remove. Ibelieve my brother meditates some desperate onslaught; for he isswearing to exterminate the whole tribe if they continue theirdepredations much longer. "

"I think, " replied John Ferguson, "that he is suicidal to his owninterests by perpetuating his quarrel with the blacks. An unceasingwarfare with them will only be conducive of misfortune, loss, anduneasiness to both himself and his neighbours; for the blacks will nothave the sense to discriminate between those that are friendly disposedtowards them, and those that are the reverse. All whites to them will bethe same, and will become objects of their hatred. "

"I agree with you to a certain extent, " replied Tom; "and I believe theaborigines can not only be conciliated, but be made certainly useful, ifnot industrious. I don't like the idea of driving the poor wretchesaway from the country: at the same time you must admit our property mustnot be despoiled without an effort on our part to protect it. "

"Certainly, " replied John; "but I believe the very violation of whichyou speak is merely the result of the harsh treatment persevered in byyour brother. Their visits to you are only their retribution forinjuries received at his hands. You see they respect my property, simplybecause I treat them with some degree of lenity; at the same time I givethem to understand that I would not permit any appropriation on theirpart; and I have no doubt if your brother would adopt the same course hewould experience a similar result. "

"Very likely, " said Tom; "but he does not seem to think so, and Iimagine it would be hard to convince him. The hostility which he nowexperiences from the blacks, I believe, as you say, is the result of hisausterity; but he imagines it arises from their own naturalpredilection for stealing, while his severity is his only safeguard. Iam quite of opinion that the blackguards are naturally disposed topilfer; but at the same time I have no doubt our property could bepreserved by the exercise of a moral firmness, without any of thatunnecessary harshness and cruelty which my brother displays. But see, here they are, paying you a visit apparently, and in open day too; seenow, if they don't upset your theory. "

The appearance that caused this expression of Tom's was of a party ofblacks who were approaching the station in a slow though by no meanssilent manner; for, in fact, the incessant din of their jabber heraldedthem before they were actually visible. The party consisted of aboutthirty men, who were armed with their usual weapons of spears, boomerangs and waddies; and clad in nature's own habiliments. They wereheaded by two fellows of commanding stature and appearance; thoughlittle differing from the others, except that one wore a necklace ofsmall bones; and the other, suspended from his neck by a cord andresting on his breast, a small brass-plate of a crescent shape, on whichhis name was engraved. This individual, who was the chief of the tribe, was named Dugingi; while his companion enjoyed the more euphonioussobriquet of Jemmy Davis. The latter had undertaken to introduce himselfand his friend to the whites with much form; and during the ceremony wewill take the opportunity of giving the reader a slight outline of hisand his comrade's history. 

Dugingi was a semi-civilized black of about the middle age, powerfullymade, and decidedly unprepossessing in his appearance. He had been atone time a trooper in the native police force of the colony; in whichcorps he had been discreet enough to acquire all the vices anddepravities of the whites, while their virtues remained to him thatarcana of life which held out no allurements for emulation. When thiseffective force was greatly reduced, and in some parts entirelydisbanded, by the sapient government of the time, Dugingi, with numerousothers of his countrymen similarly instructed, were let loose to jointheir tribes, to contaminate the hitherto inoffensive blacks with theirvile inoculations. We will not stop to review the evils that have arisenfrom the system of imbuing the natures of the blacks with a taste forsin, acquired in scenes of crime and iniquity, and then sending themback to their former haunts to spread amongst their fraternity the virusof civilized corruption. Such itself might be made the subject ofespecial exposition, and would require more space than we in this tomecan afford it. 

Upon his juncture with his tribe the effects of Dugingi's education soondisplayed themselves; and having been caught and convicted of theft, andafter a series of successful depredatory exploits, he was sentenced totwo years' penal servitude at the convict establishment in CockatooIsland. Here, again, is another instance of the judicial short-sightedpolicy against which we might declaim: for, setting aside the absence ofpunishment to a black, where confinement is accompanied with ease andregular dietary; to which he has not hitherto been accustomed (to saynothing of his incapacity to understand the nature of his crime, or thecause of his incarceration); the contamination he receives during hissojourn in those fearful sinks of infamy, complete his immoral training;and when he again breathes the fresh air of freedom, he is asaccomplished a villain as ever graced the bar of the Old Bailey. So itwas with Dugingi. Cockatoo Island finished what the native policecommenced; and but for his arrant cowardice, and the dread of thesettler's fire-arms, he would have been as great a ruffian as evertraversed the bush. But though he was at heart a thorough scoundrel, andpretty generally known to be so, he was kept in check by a wholesomedread, not of the visitation of the law (which, in the remote parts, never could be sufficiently powerful to protect the settlers from thedepredations or assaults of the blacks), but of a retribution from thewhites; which they took it upon themselves to inflict, when theyconceived it necessary. Thus, though Dugingi was peaceable, it was onlythe quiet of the subdued tiger, which merely required time andopportunity to develope its real nature. The plate, which he wore roundhis neck, was given to him upon the disbandment of the force; and on thestrength of it and his civilized acquirements, he arrogated to himselfthe chiefship of his tribe; thus proving, that in his case at least, "knowledge was power. "

Jemmy Davis, on the other hand, was a very different character. He hadbeen taken from his tribe, when young, by a settler, who called himafter himself, and kept him almost constantly about his person andpremises. He taught him reading and writing, both of which Jemmyacquired admirably; and he spoke English as fluently, and even more so, than many Englishmen. Some years after his domestication, and somelittle time before the date of our narrative, Mr. Davis visited England, and took with him his Australian namesake; keeping him constantly by hisside during the whole of a tour through the greater part of Europe. Theeffects of this would be imagined to have been the entire eradication ofhis aboriginal nature, and a perfect conversion to civilisation. Sothought his master, but he was deceived; and so have been all those whohave attempted to naturalize the blacks to an industrial mode of life. Jemmy Davis, as soon as he returned with his master to Australia and thestation, took his departure from the comforts of the whites; denudinghimself of his clothes, which he had so long accustomed himself to wear;and joined his tribe in the state we have seen him. 

The case of Jemmy Davis is by no means a singular one in the aboriginesof Australia. The attempt has frequently been made to induce them toassimilate their ways to those of the whites, but, with very rareexceptions, with the same result; nor, when we analyze the feelings thatactuate their return to savage life, need we feel surprised. Theendearments of home, wretched as that home may be; the ties of kindred;the love of country; the force of early training, and old associations;all imbue the breast of the savage in an equal degree that similarsentiments do the bosoms of his civilized neighbours. 

Let a man of humble birth, and parentage so mean that they have beenconsidered, by their fellow mortals, as cumberances on the earth; wesay, let him, through his own industry and fortuitous circumstances, raise himself to a post of eminence and power; and amidst all theengrossing excitement of his life of pomp and pedantry, the promptingsof his natural affection will cause his heart to yearn after the authorsof his being, and the humble tenement that sheltered his infant head. If, then, such feelings exist in the mind of a man subject to all thecaprices of the world, and made callous to the feelings of humanity bythe usages of that society that would hold up to scorn and ridicule theexhibition of affection for anything so mean; how much more would thechild of nature, unencumbered with such conventionalities, andunfettered by the prejudices of civilized life, yearn after the ties ofkindred and the associations of his early training. Hence all attemptsto draw the savage races into a settled civilisation, and wean them fromtheir inherent customs, have signally failed. Blacks may have beenpartially induced to adopt the customs of the whites, in individualcases, such as Jemmy Davis; but their continuance is not to be dependedupon, for they soon tire of their new life when they find that labour isits natural adjunct, and they relapse into their former state, preferring the indolence it ensures. 

The mode of living of the blacks in their wild state is primitive in theextreme; and the sources of their sustenance equally precarious. Theirdiet consists of roots, berries, fish, small animals, and reptiles (suchas snakes and lizards); and as the country never abounds with either, they are necessarily often perfectly destitute; and the water asfrequently failing, coupled with the entire absence of any degree ofpre-thought or providence on their part, and their imperfect means ofprocuration, they are almost constantly in an abject state ofwretchedness. Their weapons are primitive, singular, and even, as savagespecimens, ineffective. Their natural characteristics are cowardice, indolence, deceit, cunning, and treachery (particularly to and amongstthemselves); prevented only, as we have already said, in theirintercourse with the whites, from exercising the latter by thepredominance of the first. Their physical formation is decidedly of theinferior order; with very few exceptions, they are by no means muscularor well formed. Their bodies are covered with long, raised wales, whichare caused by incisions made with a sharp instrument (such as a shellor a flint), when the patient is young; the wounds are for some timekept open with earth, and made to assume their embossment in theoperation of healing. In their movements they are sluggish, though agilewhen stimulated to action. Their limbs are of surprising tenuity. Intheir communications with one another they are volatile; verbose inconversation, and puerile in manner: continually embroiled in somequarrel, which either ends in words, or terminates in the act of thesecret assassin; rarely coming to an open rupture while the adversariesare on their guard. 

Their women, or "gins, " are even inferior to the men, both physicallyand mentally. In appearance they are perfectly hideous, almost todeformity, and are the drudges of their lords; whom they repay for theircontumely, by keeping in continual broils, during which their femininevoices are ever heard over the din of their verbal contentions. 

We have said Jemmy Davis was the ambassador of his tribe, and that hehad introduced himself and Dugingi to John Ferguson. We will therefore, now, after our epic digression, resume our narrative, by repeating theconversation that followed. 

"Well, Jemmy, " said John Ferguson, "and what may be your pleasure? towhat may we attribute the honour of your visit?"

"We came to tell you, sir, " replied the plenipo, "that we have a great'corroboree' to-night, and we want some rations. "

"And what is your corroboree for, Jemmy?" enquired John. 

"It's a 'kipper corroboree, ' sir, " replied Jemmy. 

"Well, " replied John, "I'll not give you a mouthful of anything untilyou send back my black boys. What made them leave me? I treated themwell; gave them plenty of rations, and blankets on cold nights; so whydid they run away? Will you tell me?"

Dugingi replied, "Billy been tell'um me how Misser Rainsfield andMisser Smithers been beat 'em; and bael budgery (not good) that fellow;budgery (good) fellow you; bael (not) you beat 'em black fellow; andblack fellow been wooller (say) you corbon budgery (very good); but baelblack fellow sit down (stay) where white fellow beat 'em. "

"That's all right, Dugingi, " said John. "I never beat the black boys, and if I knew it, would never allow any one else to do so; but becauseMr. Rainsfield flogged Billy is that any reason why he should run awayfrom me? Let him and the other boy come back, and I'll give you somerations for your corroboree; but if they don't come back, I'll not giveyou anything. "

An altercation then ensued between Dugingi and the fugitives, whoappeared to be of the visiting party; and it was ultimately arrangedthat they should return after their feast. 

"I suppose we can come and see your corroboree, if we like, Dugingi?"asked John. 

"Yuoi (yes), Masser, " said Dugingi, "you come along in three-fellowhours after sun go down, and me be see 'um you. Misser Tom he come alongtoo, he budgery fellow to black fellow; but bael budgery fellow brotherbelong to him, he corbon (big) ---- rogue. "

This defamatory expression of opinion of Dugingi's on the merits of Mr. Rainsfield was uttered in no tone, and with no expression of amiability;and Tom attempted to smother his ire as he replied, "You are highlyflattering, Dugingi, not only to me but to my brother; but, never mind, I'll go and see you. Me be brother belonging to you; you go ask mybrother for rations like it corroboree. "

"He been give it, " replied Dugingi, "plenty plour (flour), tea, sugar, bacca; corbon plenty. "

"Gammon!" exclaimed Tom, "I know better than that. "

"Bael gammon, " replied the black; "he been give it I tell you, plenty;"whereupon Dugingi whispered a few words to his companions in his owndialect, and the whole sable conclave burst out into a loud laugh, andcommenced an almost deafening jabbering amongst themselves. After whichDugingi and Jemmy Davis, promising faithfully to send the black boysover to the station after the corroboree, got their promised provender, and decamped. 

END OF VOL. I. 

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 Transriber's Note:

 The following changes have been made to the original:

 Page 2 open single quotation mark added before humpie in "decent sort of a 'humpie, '"

 Page 13 our on extatic changed to our own extatic

 Page 101 lower boundaries fo changed to lower boundaries of

 Page 153 on his horse, changed to on his horse. 

 Page 163 expended n partially levelling changed to expended in partially levelling

 Page 166 I in- end to cultivate changed to I intend to cultivate

 Page 171 turned to to Miss Rainsfield changed to turned to Miss Rainsfield

 Page 190 failed toat tract changed to failed to attract

 Page 266 the meal's continnauce changed to the meal's continuance

 Page 270 that the should not changed to that he should not

 Page 351 he again reathes the changed to he again breathes the

 Page 367 incisions made with a a sharp changed to incisions made with a sharp

 In the book promotions, a closing single quotation mark was added after 'Constance Dale'