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The Story of Wild Will Enderby

Chapter IV. From Information Received

page 139

Chapter IV. From Information Received.

At early dawn two miners presented themselves at the Camp. They aroused the sleepy policeman on duty, who woke up the reluctant Sergeant, who ventured on the bold step of disturbing the slumbers of the Commissioner. To him they imparted so much as they knew or had seen of the midnight struggle as herein-before narrated.

Then commenced a species of mental tooth-drawing, wherein the officials proved themselves to be experts of the first water.

"What were their names?"—John Edwards and Philip Trewartha. "Why didn't they give information before?"—Because they couldn't get across. "How was that?"—Why the ferrymen were gone to bed they supposed, and the boat was on the wrong side of the river. "Did they try?"—Yes, they did try,—they had been cooeying ever since daylight. "Could they tell who lived near where it happened?"—Well, yes; they thought it was a big Yankee—Yankee Joe he was, and he had a young fellow called Harry for a mate. Didn't know his other name.

All this and much more was extracted from the men page 140by the combined efforts of the Sergeant and the Commissioner.

"Take a constable, Sergeant, and go with these men to the place. Make all enquiries, and report to me!"

And the Commissioner resumed the broken thread of his repose.

The Sergeant was a man of action. He started forthwith, and was faithfully guided by the miners to the indicated locality.

There a strange scene presented itself. Inside the deserted tent of the Co., the contents were scattered in wild confusion. The bunks—rude structures of bush-poles, with flour-bag sacking—had been torn down; and clothing and blankets were heaped pell-mell on the floor. On removing these it was apparent that the ground had recently been disturbed, for it lay in untrodden heaps and hollows. Moreover, a pick lying amidst the litter, was encrusted with fresh earth; and the newly broken blade of a sheath-knife was found in a corner of the tent.

Externally there were undoubted evidences of a struggle, for marks as of heavy bodies rolling in the dust were yet visible. A dark object lying on the rocks below attracted the Sergeant's attention; and, on descending, he found a felt hat with a name written inside, thus:— Harry Grey, W. E. 5. 9. 62.

A few paces removed, lay the torn sleeve of a blue serge shirt, and—more ominous still—there was a page 141white quartz pebble—a small boulder rather—stained darkly red; painted, so to speak, with a broad splash of blood.

The Sergeant collected his evidences—the hat, the shirt-sleeve, the quartz, the pick, and the fragmentary knife. Then, leaving the constable in charge of the tent, he made a domiciliary visit to every habitation in the vicinity. But other information obtained he none. So he returned to the Camp to render his report.

"Very unsatisfactory," commented the Commissioner. "There has been foul play: no doubt of it. Something must be done, Sergeant. It can't be allowed to rest here. Leave the constable at the tent. Tell him to keep inside, and to watch. Something may come of it. And, Sergeant—keep these fellows under surveillance. They know more of this matter than they choose to tell."

"No, Sir," answered the Sergeant, (who had a strong penchant for long words, which he did not always render correctly), "from information received, I find they are quiet decent men. The ferryman corobborated their narration, as to their coming over this morning. I've made inquirries, and they were not on this side of the river all yesterday."

"Very well; then find the Yankee. This seems to be his mate's hat. Where is the fellow? Find him. Sergeant—find him!"

"What way am I to find him, Sir?"

"That's your business. Found he must be. He can't have got far away. Find him at once, Sergeant!"

The Sergeant saluted, and went forth upon his quest.

Into the township he went, and there he learnt, first, page 142that the Senior Partner—otherwise Yankee Joe—had been seen on the previous day in company with some men who had proposed to follow up Fox's mates; and secondly, that he had gone away by himself early in the evening, not waiting for the others, who had left at a later period.

Half-an-hour thereafter, the Sergeant was in the saddle and away. As he passed the tent of the Co. he interviewed the constable.

"Has anything recurred?" he asked.

"No," said the constable; "barrin' an ill-looking fellow as come by and axed what was up. And when I tould him, he said the people that lived here didn't join horses very well; and the tall one—that's the Yankee—shot a man dead some time ago. (Shure, he's a great blackguard, that same Yankee, by all accounts.) And he informed me that a friend of his heard them quarrelling about some gould when he was passing by last night. And no doubt that's been the row."

"Why didn't you arrest him?" demanded the Sergeant, whose ideas of Magna Charta and the liberty of the subject were rather vague.104

"Shure thin, I had no orders."

"Orders, indeed!" exclaimed the Sergeant indignantly. "Orders is it? Are you not cognicent of the fact, that it is your duty to arrest every man, woman, and child, likely to give evidence of an offence against the peace of the mind of Her Majesty, her crown and dignity? Constable Finnegan, I'm ashamed of ye!"

"Faix, I'd have a fine tintful thin; for every sowl that comes along pretinds to know something about it."

page 143

The Sergeant ignored the reply.—"Which way did the man proceed?" he inquired.

"Up the Gorge."

"And what like was he?"

"Like a digger, sur."

"Constable Finnegan, you're no better than an omadhaun.105 The evidence is purlocating through your fingers. Describe him. Was he tall or stout?"

"Indade he was. He was five feet three, maybe."

"Was he dark or fair?"

"Shure he was black as night, barrin' his beard."

"And what colour was that?"

"That's more than I'd like to say, for he was clean shaved."

"That's suspicious. No honest man shaves now-a-days. What way was he dressed?"

"Dressed is it?—Not at all to speak of. Only a blue shirt and trousers, just like any other digger."

"Constable Finnegan, the force is going to the divil. (Here the sergeant mounted his horse.) Keep strict watch; (This from the saddle)—and if that fellow shows his visage again, apprehend him on suspicion of being an accomplish. D'ye mind me now?"

With, which parting injunction, fiercely enunciated, the bold Sergeant rode on his way.

104 Magna Charta - Meaning the ‘Great Charter’ Granted by King John June 15 1215. Most famous of the clauses is the 39th which allows for justice and trial for all ‘free men.’

105 Omadhaun - Foolish person.