The Australian Emigrant/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
As Rugsby's station lay in the direction of Melbourne, the two partners took a farewell look at the hut as they were about leaving, and availed themselves of the opportunity to thank its owner warmly for the hearty welcome and valuable assistance he had rendered them in their search for a station.
"No thanks, no thanks," was the reply; "I never enjoyed a trip more in my life. We have been very lucky too. Many men have been bushing it for years and have not seen such adventures, nor learnt as much as you have, during the short time we've been together. To those who don't understand it, the bush is of all other places the most miserable, outlandish, and monotonous; but I think you will acknowledge that it possesses some novelties and excitements. Of course, a man who spends one month in building a hut, and then is satisfied to vegetate in it for the remainder of his life, is not one who should have chosen the bush for a home. He," Dodge said, with some show of contempt, "should have been satisfied to remain a 'respectable' man in some old settled country: his quiet habits and respectability are out of place in the bush. I don't like a man who is all work neither. Your natural historian now, one who employs himself all day in poking nameless beetles out of holes and from under the bark of trees, hunting up new facts and observing all sorts of strange things, though he would never make a fortune, is a sort of man that one can put up with. In fact, I once had a weakness that way myself, and actually was credulous enough to fancy I had discovered a new animal, gave it a name (after myself of course), but the conceit was taken out of me when I found that it had been described over and over again and christened years before. The right sort to go-a-head here are just the men who would do as well anywhere else, perhaps better. Now I should say you two would find the bush a profitable and pleasant life. To me it is the latter certainly, not the former; why, I can't exactly say but I have a notion that if such things as bills and money, and debts, and lawyers, and such like had been unknown, I might have done very well. I have a great notion of selling myself up to save the lawyers trouble, and going shepherding or stock keeping, or any other equally gentlemanly occupation."
"At what wages?" Slinger inquired jokingly.
"Money no consideration whatever," was the reply: "a comfortable home and pleasant companions, every thing found, liberal rations, unlimited tobacco, no grog, as much work as you like, and just enough money to cover an annual spree in town, and I'm your man. I can do all sorts of bush work, splitting and fencing, carpentering, clearing, grubbing, ploughing, in fact, there's nothing a bushman ought to be able to do that I cannot do.—Try me."
Dodge appeared so very much in earnest that after consulting with Raymond, Slinger proposed to purchase his cattle and to engage his services forthwith. Dodge acquiesced readily, and the bargain was soon completed. Long before Buffin's station was reached it was arranged that on his return Dodge should possess himself of the newly discovered station, whilst the partners should lose no time in procuring the necessary squatting license from the Commissioner of Crown lands.
"But perhaps," said Slinger, "you would like to come to town with us; you can stop at our store if you please, we will give you as warm a welcome there as you have us in the bush."
"Oh no, thank you," said Dodge, "too many duns and lawyers there for me. I wish they were as scarce in the woods as bushrangers are in the town, although I have heard of some instances where even they could not resist the temptation of leaving their solitary life though at great risk. A few years ago there was a fellow in Van Dieman's Land who kept the whole island in terror by his daring acts, and there was a heavy figure set upon him. There was a large ball given at Government House to which all the big-wigs, many officers, and the most respectable merchants were invited. By some means the fellow was introduced as a gentleman just arrived from England, and on the company assembling he became quite the lion of the room—a roarer, and no mistake. All the women were fascinated by his bearing and conversation, the men on the contrary voted him quite a bore. On breaking up, the Governor's Lady very graciously expressed a wish that he would visit Government House frequently during his stay in Hobarton, in which request her husband joined. He thanked them for the honor they had done him, but regretted that circumstances over which he had no control would oblige him to leave town immediately, and thus prevent his availing himself of the kind invitation. Her ladyship was rather curious to know what he was in such a hurry to leave for. 'Your ladyship' he said playfully, 'can keep a secret, I suppose' Her ladyship could. 'May I exact a promise from your ladyship that you will not divulge that of which I am about to inform you until three days have elapsed' he said, smiling blandly on her. 'Mine is a romantic story' he added. 'I cannot refuse a request made with such a grace: upon my honor I will not divulge your secret. Are you satisfied? 'I am. The reason then, madam, of my hasty flight is simply this, there is a reward of £500 upon my head—don't start, madam, or we shall be observed, and the neighbourhood of Hobarton is rather a dangerous place for Kangaroo Jack the bushranger to reside in, therefore I have the honor of wishing your ladyship a very good night and pleasant dreams.' The Governor's wife was true to her word, and the bushranger was not taken for several years afterwards."
"Listen!" Dodge exclaimed, coming to a sudden halt, "I thought I heard a shot fired: yes, and there is another—we shall soon be at Rugsby's.'" As they proceeded five or six shots were heard in rapid succession. "I tell you what it is, lads, let us look to our arms: it isn't sporting they are, and it strikes me; unlike friends in many cases, we have arrived at the right time. Now then, my boys, don't you smell the powder? quick march;" and they all set off at a round pace, which soon brought them in sight of the buildings comprising Rugsby's head station. The largest was a long slab built and bark roofed hut, having two windows and a door, all situated in front. It stood on the slope of a hill from which the trees had been partly cleared; and at no great distance was a log house which served as a store, having a door only, a narrow space left between two slabs was the substitute for a window. From the shelter of the trees nearest the huts, figures were seen partially to emerge and after firing an occasional shot, they fell back into their old positions. One more adventurous or foolhardy than the rest rushed from his concealment and made a dash for a tree standing a few yards in advance of his former position; it was only the work of a few seconds, but four shots from the occupiers of the principal building was a significant proof that keen eyes were watching the motions of those who evidently formed the attacking party.
"I see how it is," said Dodge, after a few minutes' consideration, 'tis the bushrangers sure enough, they have taken the hut and have been surprised in it by some people in pursuit of them; it will be a considerable tough job too to turn them out of their quarters."
A tall man now came towards them under shelter of the trees, and the surprise of Hugh and Slinger was great when they discovered in him their fellow passenger, Big Mick. As soon as he recognised them he dropped his gun, seized Hugh by the hand, and danced about wildly in the exuberance of his joy, whooping in such a strange fashion that Dodge stood with his finger upon the trigger of his gun in a state of uncertainty whether he ought not to make use of his weapon without delay: he was soon set right on this point. A bullet from the hut warned them they were observed: it came whistling by and buried itself deeply in a log some distance beyond them. "Sure, my dear gentlemen," were the first intelligible words Mick uttered, after they had all sought shelter behind a large gum tree, "but you are come at the lucky moment, just in time to see all the divelment and fun going on.—Ah! good morning, Mr. Dodge,—you here too?"
"Yes," said Dodge, "here I am; how is your master, and what's the row—bushrangers, Eh?"
"You may say that: them blackguards," Mick replied, with a jerk of his head towards the hut, "have been bothering the neighbourhood lately, and I just heard this morning there was a party in search of them, and so as I hadn't been in a scrimmage for a long while, niver since I left dear ould Ireland, I told my wife I was going to look for wild cattle, and by the powers I've found 'em. As for my Masther, Misther Ruffin, he's here somewhere, and wont he enjoy himself by and by." During the conversation, the owner of the station joined them, but he carried no weapon. After mutual recognitions, Dodge inquired the reason.
"Reason enough," he replied in rather a surly tone, "all my arms are in possession of the fellows who now occupy my place yonder. Ruffin and some friends called on me this morning to ask my aid in an endeavour to take the bush-rangers. I had agreed, we had made all arrangements and were sat down to a comfortable breakfast, when, before you could say Jack Robbinson, d——-—e if they hadn't taken us. There were ten, all mounted, one of 'em on my own horse, and they rushed the hut. Unfortunately, all our arms had been piled outside, ready for a start, and when I had reached the door expecting to find some fellows come to join us, I was met by an ugly-looking brute who poked the muzzle of a pistol in my face and inquired whether I could take a hint. 'We don't want to hurt any one' he said, 'but we mean to stock ourselves with provisions, that's all. What we have to do, we wish done without bloodshed; that's all I have to say, so hold my horse.'
"Your horse," said I, "why its mine."
"'Come, no grumbling' he replied, as he glanced to one of his gang who stood a few paces from the door. I was mightily inclined to mount as I took the bridle from his hand, but I didn't care to leave my companions in a fix. They fared no better than myself. One of them who ventured to make some show of resistance with a carving knife, was unceremoniously knocked down with the but end of a pistol, and the rest were huddled up in a corner, in which position they were kept by the table being placed in front of them.—The hut was ransacked and every thing turned topsy-turvey. The only decent coat I possessed was appropriated, and one of my two linen shirts went for tinder. After they had laden their horses with provisions from my store, the rascals added insult to injury, for they set to and ate up all the breakfast I had prepared for my friends. In rummaging out my stock they had come across some rum, the remnant of my last spree, and I was in hopes they would have drank freely, but the one who appeared to be the leader of the gang seized upon the liquor immediately it was produced, and serving out a small portion to each of his comrades, he spilt the remainder upon the ground. Although this proceeding was evidently distasteful, no one ventured to remonstrate. I was now ordered to go inside and to assist in tying my friends together by the arms in order to prevent the possibility of pursuit, but this I positively refused to do. All the bushrangers were in the hut, and the horses with their burdens hitched up outside, when we were startled by a rattling volley followed by a loud cheer. All was confusion, and in the midst of it I and my friends made a bolt, rushed outside, holding up both hands to show we were unarmed, and nearly had our brains kicked out, for two horses were struggling in the doorway in the agonies of death. The bushrangers also endeavoured to escape, but finding it hopeless, they returned to the hut, and from all I can judge they mean to fight it out; the rope is about their necks and they know it. All this accounts for your seeing me unarmed, but though there are no spare weapons yet, there will be by and by, for those fellows know how to handle a rifle as well as the men who have come out to take them and who dropped upon them at such a convenient time."
During Rugsby's account of the occurrences which had led to the present aspect of affairs, a brisk fire had been exchanged between the combatants, but no material damage had been done to either side. A shot from Dodge was quickly answered from the hut.
"You see," said Dodge to our friends, "it can't be expected that you care much about this kind of thing, but when I'm in a mess I like to be in the thick of it, so I shall take up a position where I can rake the hut and be in closer communication with the more active of the assailants." He left Raymond and Slinger, and his presence in the midst of the fray was announced to them by three cheers. As if by one consent the whole direction of the attack was placed in his hands, and he was not long in disposing the means at his command in the most advantageous manner. He drew off a number of men, and amongst them Hugh and Slinger, and stationed them under shelter of the store which commanded one end of the hut, and with these he continued more particularly to act. As the day drew on the firing from the hut grew more slack, and at last almost ceased. A council of war was held, at which a feeling prevailed, from which, however, Dodge dissented, that the time was come for making a general attack and taking the bushrangers' strong hold by storm. Dodge proposed that a parley should be held with the enemy, and since they must have become convinced that escape was almost hopeless, he trusted the affair might be settled without bloodshed. It became a question who was to be the adventurous diplomatist, and all eyes were turned on Dodge. After ordering offensive operations to cease, he silently left the assembly, and in a few moments returned with a piece of white linen tied to the end of a stick. Our readers must not be too curious to know from whence the rag was procured, but it answered the end intended admirably. After flourishing it at arm's length for a short time, Dodge roared out at the top of his by no means feeble voice, "Hut! ahoy!" and an answer was immediately returned.
"Listen," he went on to say, "I am coming unarmed to explain to you the utter hopelessness of your situation, and to afford you the only chance remaining for your lives. If you deal treacherously with me, every man here will see me amply revenged; won't you, lads? A simultaneous cheer arose from all sides. With the utmost coolness, extending both arms, and still carrying the novel flag of truce, Dodge left the shelter of the store and walked towards the door of the hut, from whence a tall man issued in a similar attitude. After exchanging a few words they went back together, and the door was closed.
"You are as good as taken," were the first words Dodge uttered as he entered. "Don't deceive yourselves, you can't escape. As it is, you have shed no blood in the fray, and may escape hanging."
"But since the choice remains with us, we prefer the risk of being shot," was the rejoinder.
"Well, it's all a matter of opinion," Dodge remarked; "give me a light for my pipe." This request was complied with, and he handed his pouch to the leader of the gang, who also proceeded to smoke, and the two sat down and remained for a time silent. After scanning each other closely, Dodge said "I like your cut vastly, and I don't fancy this is the first time we have met. Your being in the company of such very respectable gentlemen as I see about you does rather bother me. How is it?"
"I don't feel disposed to offer you any explanation upon that point," said the leader, "and I presume it is not the object of your mission. Let us proceed to business. You come to demand our surrender. We refuse. What then?"
"You are entirely in error," Dodge replied; "let us quite understand each other. I did not come to demand your surrender, but to offer you the alternative between yielding and hanging. You have not yet absolutely refused; when you have, I can answer your last question."
"We do refuse then on any terms."
"I am very sorry for it: and now I have no difficulty in giving you the information you ask. You will be dead or prisoners before sunset. You are surrounded on all sides, and fresh men are arriving every hour. Am I to understand that you reject my offer?"
"You are; we know the worst that can happen to us; but what is to prevent our keeping you a prisoner?"
"Nothing" Dodge replied, "but this, that I put myself into your power hoping to save your lives, though at the hazard of my own."
It has been well said that even the greatest rascals have some good points in their nature which outlive the commission of crimes of the deepest die. The man who acted as leader opened the door without saying another word and motioned Dodge to depart, who returned to his friends and recounted to them the failure of his mission, when the firing recommenced.
During his absence, at Slinger's suggestion, a rough kind of shield had been constructed of split slabs capable of being borne before an advancing party. It was not long allowed to remain useless, and eventually, as will be seen, proved one of the principal agents in unhousing the bushrangers. A quantity of fibrous bark was collected from the adjacent trees and bound loosely together at the end of a stout pole, fire was set to it, and under cover of the shield of slabs, which was borne by several stout fellows, an advance was made towards the enemy's quarters amidst a general cheer; but it was of short duration, for a shot striking a defective part penetrated the shield and wounded one of the bearers badly. As soon as those stationed in front of the hut saw the occurrence they made a simultaneous rush but were met by a steady fire: every shot told, and they were obliged to fall back carrying with them several wounded comrades.
At this stage of the proceedings three mounted troopers, constituting the body-guard of a stout gentleman who was observed making himself very active in the background, joined in the fray, and for a time they engaged the particular attention of the enemy. The gentleman proved to be no other than Mr. Robberson, the hero of the "Big Ann." He had been dispatched to aid in the capture of the bushrangers, and quite unintentionally he had arrived upon the scene of action, but like a good general he did his utmost to keep out of harm's way and under the friendly shelter of a grove of trees, issued orders which no one thought of obeying but the three unfortunate convict troopers who had been placed under him.[1]
Whilst the shield was being overhauled and strengthened, and preparations were making for a second attack under its friendly cover, one of the troopers was sent by Mr. Robberson with an order that the unwieldy machine was to be placed at his service, so that he might shift his position in safety nearer to the centre of operations. A general laugh announced the delivery of the message, and Dodge, after learning who the important gentleman was from whom the command emanated, sent the bearer of it back with a polite intimation that the shield was at Mr. Robberson's service, and that he was quite at liberty to come for it. The irate magistrate was almost beside himself when he found the contempt with which his authority was treated, and he so far forgot his natural cowardice that under the protection of his guards' horses he prepared, by a circuitous route, to demand in person the respect due to his rank. One horse was shot down in performing this service, and Mr. Robberson arrived among the picturesque group of combatants quite out of breath and in a high state of excitement, if not in absolute terror. As soon as he recovered himself, he singled out Dodge, of whom he had some previous knowledge, and addressing him by name he required to know who had dared to send such an insulting answer to his demand.
"I sent the reply," said Dodge; "but I see no great daring in the act. To be plain with you, squire, you are out of place here: go home."
"I shall represent your conduct, sir, to the authorities. It is unsafe to give men like you licences for land. You are a rebel, sir, and quite unfit to be engaged in a service of this kind. I hereby take upon myself the command. Now, men, advance and capture those villains in the hut."
"Bravo!" cried Dodge; "hooray! You are the sort of fellow for this work: active (Mr. R. was grown more corpulent than ever), energetic, bustin with dignity, and choke full of spirit and pluck.—You are the sort:—now then, show us the nearest way to the door yonder," and Dodge jostled Mr. R. from the tree, behind which, however, he again quickly retreated.
"Now really, my men," Mr. R. appealed to those who were witnesses of the scene, "this is too bad; you allow a fellow, who is no better than a low degraded outlaw, who at this moment ought to be in a jail, to insult your sovereign as represented in my person." After delivering himself thus, amidst the smiles of his auditory, Mr. Robberson drew himself up to his full height (about five feet six inches), beating himself with one hand upon the breast whilst with the other he struck his hat fiercely over his brows as if he, the figurative sovereign, having had his crown recently shaken in some civil discord, was preparing to wear it at all hazards. Mr. Robberson's action, coupled with his words, had such a ludicrous effect, that the smiles of those surrounding him were lost in broad grins. These demonstrations produced anything but a soothing effect upon the excitable magistrate, who, looking round for some one on whom to vent his wrath, his eye fell on Dodge, and he forthwith fell foul of that supremely cool individual.
"This is all your doing, you Dodge: I know you. I shall remember you. You are the man that skulks from bailiffs; but I'll beat up your quarters yet. A troop of border police shall vindicate the majesty of the law before long, and rid the country of a pauper humbug."
Slinger began to grow indignant, but Dodge looked on as if it were an impossibility he could be the person alluded to: he however quietly said to a bystander, "See to the poor gentleman's head."
"Humph!" Slinger exclaimed: "a pauper, eh? Well, Mr. Robberson, it is not an uncommon thing to find men without a penny, worth their weight in gold; and others, with pockets overflowing, not worth a"
"Easy," Dodge said to Slinger, "I can fight my own battles. Let us drop this nonsense; we have our work before us: is every thing ready?" Every thing was ready. "Now, Mr. Robberson, who is going to transact this delicate piece of business, you or I?" The gentleman was silent: perhaps with indignation.
The shield was raised and tested, when it was pronounced bullet proof, and was again moved out from behind the trees. This time both Hugh and Slinger accompanied Dodge; who, before starting on the doubtful service, offered the post of honor, as well as danger, to Mr. Robberson; who, however, declared that as the conduct of the affair had been taken out of his hands by force, he should decline interfering any further. A very judicious decision.
As Dodge was leaving, he offered his hand to Mr. Robberson, and exclaimed, "Come, shake it; it is far cleaner than it looks, and I don't care to leave you with any ill feeling." But Mr. Robberson was far too dignified a personage to regard Dodge's honest freedom with the respect it deserved, so he coolly turned his back upon him; whereupon a torch was again lighted, and amidst a round of cheers the advance was gallantly and rapidly made. The firing from the bushrangers almost ceased until the attacking party approached near the back of the hut. The lighted brand was then thrust under the dry bark of which the roof was constructed. As this daring exploit was being performed, repeated volleys were fired from the interstices of the slabs, and once the door was opened as if for the purpose of making a sally upon the gallant little band; the utter hopelessness, however, of such a proceeding became apparent, for those situated so as to command the front of the hut, and who were not unprepared for an emergency of the kind, poured in such a well-directed fire, that the door was quickly closed. A brisk breeze, which was laden with the sweet scent of the wattle and other bush flowers, and but ill accorded with the bloody work which now appeared imminent, aided the spread of the flames, in which one end of the hut became partially enveloped.
Those who made the successful assault had retreated about twenty yards, when an event occurred which bid fair to leave them completely exposed to their enemies. One of the cords was shot through with which the slabs of the shield were fastened, and it appeared more than probable that the whole fabric would fall to pieces; a sudden jerk, when lifted, would have been sufficient to ensure its complete destruction, and the bullets which now rattled upon it like hail, gave but too painful an illustration of the probable fate of those behind it, if deprived of its friendly shelter.
Mr. Robberson had all this time been ensconced in safety, but as there appeared a probability that the affair was growing to a climax, he occasionally ventured from his shelter for a moment to notice the turn events were taking. As the flames spread and the firing from the hut grew slack, he became proportionably valiant, and evinced a disposition to share in the conclusion of the fray, which was now evidently approaching. But an unerring eye was upon him, and a heart made callous by years of crime, misery, and degradation, was only intent in that hour of peril to consummate its deadly revenge, made doubly bitter by a sense that it was founded in wrong and injustice. Mr. Robberson had turned to give some instructions to one of his troopers, when he uttered a groan and fell forward upon his face, at the same moment a cry (it might have been of agony,) was heard to proceed from the hut and rang through the woods, mingling in the din and turmoil of the fight. The flames spread and crackled through the building, notwithstanding its defenders had succeeded in displacing parts of the roof. The capacious chimney, which carried off volumes of smoke, alone enabled them to hold their ground. To add to the confusion of the scene, the parched grass near had taken fire which spread with alarming rapidity, and many of the besiegers were forced to retreat before it. A clump of tea-tree scrub checked its progress, but only for a moment, for a breeze 
All this time the shield and those it sheltered remained stationary, but Dodge declared he could restrain himself no longer, and bidding those who chose to follow him, he prepared to make a dash for the door. At this moment a man was seen through the smoke on the top of the hut throwing down the logs which it is the fashion of bushmen to lay upon all bark roofs to prevent the heat of the sun from warping them. Slinger was following close on Dodge's heels when this figure attracted their attention, and the gun of the old bushman was already at his shoulder, when Slinger griped him by the arm and exclaimed, "Come back, there's a good fellow; for God's sake, if it be not too late, save that unfortunate man."
"What is up?" Dodge exclaimed; "are you growing sentimental? He is past all saving, and it is only a question now whether he dies by lead or hemp. Believe me, that fellow is not going to be taken alive."
As if to make the surmise good, the person who was the subject of conversation was seen to stagger and seek support by grasping an angle of the chimney; a cloud of smoke hid him momentarily from view, and then he fell headlong to the ground. His fall was the signal for a general rush. There was no cheering this time, and although some shots were fired upon the attacking party and several fell, the result was no longer doubtful.
The first who reached the door was Dodge, who grasping a piece of wood which had formed part of the shield, used it in the manner of a battering-ram, and so effectually that he found himself in the midst of the bushrangers in the burning hut before his friends could join him, laying about him with all his might, and roaring at the top of his voice, "You are all my prisoners." Two of his antagonists fell prostrate at his feet. A pistol was fired at him, but the ball striking the powder flask which he carried inside the breast of his flannel shirt, glanced off without injury. All this was only the work of a few moments, and when Hugh and Slinger entered they found him on his knees pummelling with his fists the poor wretch who had made the unsuccessful shot at him. The indignant bush-man appeared to have quite forgotten the presence of the other men, who were paralyzed at the loss of their leader, as he roared between his blows, "So you wont surrender, eh! and after I've taken you. I hope this will be a lesson to you."
The rest is soon told. The half stifled, but only partly subdued men, were dragged out of the building which they had defended with a bravery equalled only by the badness of their cause, and when they had been properly secured, every attention was paid to the wounded. Mr. Robberson was borne faint and speechless into the store house, and he was shortly followed by Bayley, who our readers will have recognised in the leader of the bushrangers, and whose hurts seemed very desperate.
Amongst those who had been engaged in the fray was a certain bush practitioner known as Doctor Bathey, whose acquirements were so extensive, or his vanity so egregious, that he was at all times prepared to attend cases arising amongst the settlers, their horses, cattle, or dogs; but his favorite practice was upon the human subject.
"Two very bad cases indeed," this personage remarked, after he had felt the pulses of the wounded men; "very low—desperately low—in fact, infernally low."
"Can nothing be done for them?" Dodge, who knew Dr. Bathey well, inquired in a whisper.
"A great deal might if I had my instruments; but really, when one considers that they both must die, perhaps it is as well I am without them." Dodge thought so too. "You see — What's his name? the magistrate, is as good as dead already, and as for the other fellow, my professional skill would be thrown away upon him, for what I saved, the law would spoil; therefore," he concluded, "my opinion is that they had better die quietly and comfortably.—Ten and sixpence if you please."
"And six! nothing less?" Dodge inquired with a very serious expression of face.
"Ten and six if you please. My scale of fees for advice is moderate.—Dog, two shillings; cattle, five ditto; horse, seven and six; man—noble man, ten and six."
"Knock off the sixpence," Dodge said, coaxingly.
Impossible, my dear sir: you asked for my opinion; I gave it you.—Ten and sixpence if you please."
"Exchange is no robbery," Dodge replied: I'll pay you in your own coin." So drawing himself up with a look of great importance, and gently tapping the side of his nose with his finger, he beckoned Dr. Bathey to his side, and still whispering said, "In case you should ever come across me when I'm sick—now pay attention to what I say—don't attempt your tinkering upon me, or I'll be the death of you. That's my advice, for which I charge you nothing. My opinion is, that you are a humbug, an opinion cheap at ten and six, and so our account is squared;" so saying he took Bathey by the hand and with a quiet sniggle told him in confidence, that he hadn't as much as seen a half sov. for the last two years, but that if he would meet him at his lawyer's and press his claim, some arrangement should be made. The conversation which had been carried on half in joke and half in earnest was terminated by Bathey, who declared that the colony presented no encouragement for men of liberal education.
After the greater number of those recently engaged in the struggle had departed with their prisoners, the few who remained, amongst whom were Dodge and his two friends, prepared to spend the night in their present quarters, and to render such assistance to the wounded as circumstances permitted.
It was good to see the delicate attentions rendered to the sufferers by the old bushman. His every word and action assorted but indifferently with the usual bluntness of his manner, and showed clearly enough that the rust of bush habits and associations had not materially affected his naturally humane and generous heart.
As night set in there was something truly solemn in the surrounding scene. The silence which prevailed was only broken occasionally by the moans of the sufferers, made doubly touching to the watchers by the knowledge that no efficient medical aid could possibly reach them for many hours. At intervals the crash of falling trees in the distance was heard, which had been ignited by the late fire, and their glowing embers dotted the country round for many miles. A line of light spread along the distant horizon and showed that the fire was still unsubdued.
Neither Mr. Robberson nor Bayley had spoken since they had been brought into the hut, excepting to ask for water, which they drank eagerly. Whilst Slinger was administering some to the bushranger, Bayley fixed his eyes upon him earnestly, and seizing his hand retained it for some time, and then motioned him to stoop that he might speak to him. "I hoped to have escaped all this," he whispered, in broken accents, "but my fate has pursued me to the end. What devil put Robberson in my way?"
"Speak lower," Slinger whispered," he lays near you, badly wounded."
"I know it," Bayley said, "and by my hand, would it were not so."
"Amen," Slinger ejaculated.
The word fell upon the ear of the magistrate, whose breathing became hurried and irregular. In scarcely intelligible language he begged his position might be changed. As Dodge and Raymond were performing this little service, he looked eagerly round the hut as if expecting some consolation was at hand, but the figure that met his gaze was not the one he sought.
On seeing Bayley, he raised himself a little, and stretching out his hands, exclaimed, "Take me away—anywhere;" and his quivering lips gave evidence of the mental struggle he was enduring. "Take me away, I say: take me out of this place."
"We are past hurting each other further now," said Bayley, mournfully: "it is too late for anything but mutual forgiveness: let us forget the past, if we can; but if you feel any difficulties on that score," this was said almost fiercely, "remember it was you who helped to make me what I am."
"Move me," Mr. Robberson moaned; and as his request was being complied with—" No: I can't bear it. Move him away out of my sight."
A fresh flow of blood from his wound left him exhausted and speechless in the arms of Dodge and Raymond, but his eyes were still fixed on Bayley, who averted his face as he whispered to Slinger, "How is it I can't look at him, and he can at me? When my eye meets his I feel like a coward; and instead of having only done an act of retribution, that I have committed a cold-blooded murder—no: not cold blooded: for it was the work only of a moment, and that moment one of desperation: and yet, for years, I have thought such a time might come." He grasped Slinger's hand in his agony, and entreated him for mercy's sake not to leave him, as he looked at Mr. Robberson and found him still gazing upon him; but the expression of those eyes was gone: they stared with a glassy, fixed, and unmeaning look, that yet struck more terror into the heart of the dying bushranger than would have the angry glare of a wild beast; he quailed, and his whole frame shuddered as he gathered himself together, uttering ejaculations which died away into a low moaning. Then the body of Robberson was removed out of the hut, for he was dead; and in a few short hours that of the bushranger lay beside it stark and stiff—death had done its work. The one, raised by fortuitous circumstances as far above the position in society for which he was qualified; as the other had sunk below his natural sphere, had found their level at last.