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The Story of Wild Will Enderby

Chapter XI. "Convey the Wise it Call."

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Chapter XI. "Convey the Wise it Call."

Not only did the river not annex the claim, but, falling as suddenly as it rose, it renewed it, by filling up the wrought-out portion with a fresh deposit of gold-bearing sands. The Co. were soon at work with zeal and alacrity, and, to render themselves more secure from other possible irruptions of the capricious waters, they removed the "washdirt" to a spot above flood-mark, where they could afterwards sift the golden grains from the soil at leisure. This gave them an advantage over the less intelligent miners around, who first sneered, then marvelled, then applauded: the last, however, only when, themselves flooded out, they marked the Co. steadily at work. Then, indeed, they were fain to acknowledge the force of the scholarly old maxim—"Knowledge is power."

One day it chanced that our friends were busily engaged at the sluice-box, whilst every one around was perforce idle owing to the rising of the river. Quite a crowd gathered to watch their operations, and to express various opinions, such as idle men ever have time to pronounce on the doings of their neighbours. Some commended the foresight of the Co.; others good-humouredly bantered them on their haste to get rich.

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Said one, "That must be blazing rich stuff, mates, for you to heap it up that fashion."

The speaker was a short, square-set, bullet-headed man, well on the shady side of forty, with long greasy locks, once black, now iron gray. His face, denuded of beard and whiskers, showed blue and stubbly from infrequent shaving; and he bore a peculiar expression of countenance which indexed him as a wanderer from the prison-island of the Southern Ocean: an indescribable yet easily recognizable expression, Speaking, as plainly as a printed book, of Port Arthur, "chains and slavery." He was further remarkable for a certain vicious obliquity of vision, which did not tend to improve his personal appearance.

"Well, stranger," said the ready-witted Senior Partner, "guess you ain't altogether on the wrong scent. This stuff is so mighty rich, that we've got to work jest to knock out tucker, while you boys can afford time to go mooning around. That's all."

He of the greasy locks grinned sardonically, and answer made he none; but, with his comrades, continued his saunterings.

Next morning, when the Co. went to resume their labours, they made a discovery: a portion of the piled-up washdirt had been removed in the night-time.

"That's the smooth-faced Vandemonian cuss," quoth the Senior Partner, after having carefully revolved the question; and he ejected a copious libation to the Nicotian gods, as he delivered his opinion. "That's the smooth-faced Vandemonian cuss. I'll go an eagle to a red on that. Yes, sirree! See these here boot-prints? Toes turned inwards. Comes of wearing cast-iron page 61ankle-jacks. Learnt that, much, anyway, over to Bendigo."

Loud and violent were the ejaculations of Harry. Mr George W. Pratt allowed him to "blow off steam" without interruption. When the process had induced exhaustion, the Senior Partner quietly remarked,—

"I say, 'ditto' to that pardner, and give my casting vote with the 'Ayes.' So that's settled. Now, you stop here, and go on liquidating these shining sands, while I jest take a look around, and fix the bearings of that pesky somnambulizer."

He "spotted" his man about a mile away, down the river, and with him two others, not quite as greasy, but fully as Vandemonish in appearance. When the Senior Partner first sighted them, one—the inquisitive youth of the previous day—was washing off a pan of earth; whilst the others, squatting on their haunches, eagerly awaited the result. Their faces being towards the river they did not observe the on-looker.

"How much?" queried one, as the operation drew to a finish.

"Over an ounce," responded the operator.

"Ounce be blowed! Why 'tain't worth the trouble we took about it, Jimmy."

"Ain't it? Why, I've seen the time as I'd have choked a blessed man for less than half o'that."

Just then, a noise, as of rain pattering on the pebbles near by, arrested their attention, and, looking up, they espied the Senior Partner.

Instantly, their features assumed a cowed, scared look, such as hunted animals—quadrupedal or bipedal—wear, when danger is nigh.

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They hurled a surly "Good morning!" at him. It was not his policy to betray suspicion. So he merely replied,

"Morning, boys. River seems going down fast." And exchanging a few inconsequential phrases, he strolled on indifferently.

When he was well out of hearing the Three vented their annoyance by mutually reproaching each other in language hugely incarnadined, and black with devilish oaths.

Meanwhile the Senior Partner pursued his way along the river-bank, and by dint of indirect inquiries he became acquainted with the nicknames of the three worthies; for all of their tribe; although possessed of as many aliases as a cat has lives, reserve these for the exclusive benefit of policemen, magistrates and juries. Amongst themselves they are best known by some soubriquet. Thus he, of the greasy locks, was distinguished as "Flash Jimmy," another, who had, at some period of his career been a purveyor of intestinal luxuries answered to the name of "Tripes," and the third was denominated "Ginger," in honour of a shock head of hair of a dirty brick-dust hue.

Of their reputation, the miners spoke with bated breath; for these men were a terror to all well-disposed people. The general impression seemed to be, that Jack Ketch had been "slued" (anglice—robbed of his dues) by the trio. Further, he learnt that they lived apart from all others—dwelling not in any hut, or house, or tent; but in a curious subterranean abode, fashioned out of, or rather under, a huge flat rock, the one end of which was firmly embedded in the river-page 63bank, whilst the other end overhung the beach. The front was built up with rough stones; and thus was constructed a semi-cavernous chamber, serving for "but and ben"—for kitchen and bedroom alike. All of which the Senior Partner carefully noted.

There were then many, and there are still some of these quaint abodes extant. I know of one such, wherein a man and his family dwelt for several years. He had gradually enlarged the cavity, until he could boast of three apartments; and he and his wife assured me, with charming conjugal unity, that it was "the most comfortablest 'ouse as ever they lived in."

And, indeed, it must be conceded, that a habitation, sub terra, is preferable to a castle in the air.