"I can't tell you. The boys haven't got much, but that long-leggedYankee has probably got considerable."
"What sort of a man is he?"
"He's likely to prove a troublesome customer. He is muscular, as you cansee, and not easily scared."
"Has he any suspicion of you?"
"Yes; I put my foot in it the other night."
"How's that?"
"I saw him sleeping like a boy, and thought there was no danger of hiswaking up, so I took the liberty to explore his pockets. Before I couldsay Jack Robinson he had me by the throat, and wanted to know what I wasafter."
"That was awkward. How did you get out of it?"
"Lied out! Told him I was looking for matches, as I wanted a smoke."
"Did he swallow it down?"
"He didn't contradict me, but it has made him watchful and suspicious.If I'd got the money, I was ready to make tracks, and leave them to findtheir way as they could."
At this point the two rose and walked away, leaving Harry in hisposition behind the tree. As soon as he thought it was safe he came out,and made the best of his way to the inn, getting there about fifteenminutes before Fletcher appeared, but without the landlord. During thatinterval he had time to communicate what he had heard to ObedStackpole.
"Just what I expected!" said Obed. "The treacherous skunk! So he's inleague with the landlord, is he? I'll fix him."
He cautioned the two boys not to show by their manner that they had madeany discovery, but to appear as usual.
The next morning the party started as usual. They plodded on for almosta mile, when Obed, turning quickly to Fletcher, said:
"Let me look at that weapon of yours a minute."
Fletcher unsuspiciously handed it over.
"I think I shall _keep_ this, Fletcher," said Obed, eying him steadily."I'm pained to have to bid you good-by."
"What does all this mean?" blustered Fletcher.
"It means that your room is better than your company. We'd betterpart."
"Would you rob me? That revolver is mine, and I paid for a share of thethings in the cart."
"I'll allow you the vally of them and pay you on the spot, but we can'tgo on together."
Suiting the action to the word, Mr. Stackpole handed over a handsome sumof money.
"But I don't want to sell my revolver," repeated Fletcher. "What am I todo out here alone, and unarmed."
"You'd better go back to your friend Larry Linton. He'll look out foryou."
"You will regret this high-handed proceeding!" exclaimed Fletcherangrily.
"Maybe I shall, and maybe I shan't," answered Obed indifferently. "I'llrisk it."
Fletcher halted a moment as if undecided, then turned back, and was soonout of sight.
CHAPTER VIII.
A VICTIM OF TREACHERY.
All the party felt relieved to be rid of Fletcher. Without being able toprove anything against him, all believed him to be unworthy ofconfidence. Now they were a united party, and whatever might be thehardships of the trip they were ready to sympathize and co-operate witheach other.
They had already learned that it was no holiday trip they hadundertaken. The bogs have already been referred to. In addition the heatwas oppressive in the middle of the day. Then the numerous insects thatinfest Australia--the ants, flies, and scorpions--were most troublesome.They had to be very careful to avoid being bitten, for the bite of anythese is severe and dangerous. On the day succeeding their parting fromFletcher they accomplished but six miles, the road being unusuallyswampy.
"I feel about tuckered out," said Obed, about the middle of theafternoon, just after he had extricated the team, by great personaleffort, from a morass. "If I'd 'a' known as much of the country beforestartin' I wouldn't have started at all."
"It's a long road that has no ending," said Harry, smiling. He, too, wasvery tired, but youth is hopeful.
"It's the worst country I ever travelled in, by a long shot. If I evermake my pile, I'll take the first steamer back to Frisco."
"Who's that?" suddenly exclaimed Jack.
Obed and Harry, looking up, saw a forlorn-looking figure approachingthem. It was a man of middle age, and emaciated in appearance, lookingthe image of despair. He tottered rather than walked, from exceedingweakness.
"For Heaven's sake give me something to eat! I am almost famished," hecried.
"Why, certainly, friend," answered Obed, rising and advancing to meetthe stranger. "We don't keep a first-class hotel, but you're welcome towhat we've got. Are you travellin' alone?"
"Yes, if you call it travelling. I've been dragging myself along forseveral days, hoping to find somebody that would give me aid."
"Well, you've found somebody. Here, sit down, for you don't seem able tostand, and we'll provide for you. Harry, bring some biscuit and coldmeat, won't you, and Jack had better build a fire. A cup of tea will putnew life into you, my friend."
The biscuit were soaked in water and given to the stranger. He devouredthem like a man in the last stages of hunger.
"Go slow, my friend. Your stomach must be weak," said Obed.
"If you only knew the gnawing at my vitals," said the new-comer. "I havenot tasted food for three days."
"I never was in that fix, though I did go hungry for twenty-four hoursonce in Californy. You'd better believe I pitched in when I got to wherevictuals were."
"How did that happen, Mr. Stackpole?" asked Harry.
"I was lost in the mountains," answered Obed, "and couldn't find anytrace of a livin' creature except an old miser, who pointed a musket atme, and didn't dare to let me into his hut. I don't think I could havestood it three days."
"That goes to the right spot," said the stranger, after he had gulpeddown two cups of tea. "Now I'm ready to die without complaining."
"If it's all the same to you, I think you'd better get ready to live,"said Obed.
"I'd rather die now than suffer as I have done in the last three days,"
"You won't have to. We've got plenty and to spare."
"But I have no money. I have been robbed of everything."
"Robbed! How is that?"
"It's rather a long story. You may not have patience to hear it."
"We've got time enough, and patience enough, but perhaps you don't feelstrong enough to talk."
"I didn't before you relieved my hunger. The food and the tea have putnew life into me, as you predicted they would."
"Then go ahead, stranger. We're all anxious to hear your story."
"I am an Englishman," began the unknown, "and my name is Ralph Granger.When the report reached England of the richness of the Australiangold-fields, I sold out my business, and was among the first to come outhere. By the sale of my business I realized about five hundred pounds.Three hundred I left with my wife--I have no children--to keep her whileI was gone. It is very fortunate that I took this precaution and lefther so well provided for, since, had I brought all my money with me, itwould all have been lost."
The three adventurers looked at each other soberly. The ill fortune oftheir new acquaintance did not augur very well for their good fortune.
"Then you had bad luck," said Harry inquiringly.
"On the contrary I had good luck," replied the stranger.
"Good luck!" repeated Harry in surprise. "Then how----"
"How did I come into this plight? That is what you were about to ask?"
"Yes."
"You will soon learn. On reaching this country I was in doubt whether togo to Ballarat or Bendigo, but finally decided upon the latter."
"We are bound for Bendigo," said Jack.
"So I inferred. Ballarat is in a different direction. Very well, Ireached Bendigo three months since. For a time I was unlucky. I foundnext to no gold, and the prices of living used up about all the money Ihad left after the expense of getting there. Just when I was on thepoint of giving up in despair my luck turned. I made a strike, andduring the next six weeks I unearthed gold to the value of a thousandpounds."
&nb
sp; "That certainly wasn't bad luck."
"It was extraordinarily good luck, and naturally drew the attention ofthe rest of the camp. This was unfortunate, for in such a settlement, asmay well be supposed, there are many reckless adventurers, ex-convicts,and men utterly destitute of principle."
"Then you were robbed at the camp?"
"Not then nor there. I took the precaution to send the greater part ofmy money to Melbourne by experts. Destitute and lost, I have six hundredpounds in Melbourne awaiting my arrival, but for all that, I shouldprobably have starved to death but for my opportune meeting with you."
"Come, then, you've got something to live for, after all," said Obed.
"Yes, you are right. Let me once get to Melbourne and I am all right. Ishall buy a passage ticket to Liverpool, and carry with me the balanceof my money. With all that I have lost I shall go home richer than Icame."
"But how did you lose your money?" asked Jack, who was eager to have hiscuriosity gratified.
"When I got ready to leave the gold-fields, there was no party which Icould join. I did not like to go alone. In this emergency a man who hadbeen working an adjoining claim offered to go with me. He professed tohave been fortunate, and to be ready to go back to the city. I saw noreason to distrust him, and accepted his proposal. We bought each ahorse, made other preparations, and set out together. He won upon myconfidence, and I told him everything. He was very comfortably fixedhimself, he told me, and was glad he had fallen in with me, as he hadbeen afraid of being robbed on the journey. All went pleasantly forthree days, but on the morning of the fourth day when I awoke I foundmyself alone. A little startled, I felt for my gold, which I carried ina belt around my waist. It was gone, and so was my horse. Of course youguess how it happened. My companion had robbed me during the night, andleft me in the woods utterly destitute."
"What was the name of your companion?" asked Obed quickly.
"He called himself Fletcher."
"I thought so!" exclaimed Obed, slapping his leg with emphasis. "We knowthe gentleman a little ourselves."
CHAPTER IX.
A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
"You have not met Dick Fletcher?" said Ralph Granger in surprise.
"Yes, we only parted from him this morning."
"Did he rob you?"
"No, but he tried to."
Here Obed gave an account of Fletcher's searching his pockets during thenight.
"He thought I was sound asleep," he continued, "and so I was, but itdoesn't take much to wake me. When I gripped his throat, he concludedhe'd tackled the wrong man."
"Did you part company with him then?"
"No; he pretended he had been in search of matches, and I pretended tobelieve it, but kept a good look-out. Last evening we stopped at theTravellers' Rest, and Harry, here, overheard him and the landlord out inthe woods concocting a scheme to rob us, so I just told the gentlemanhis room was better than his company, and he cleared out."
"I am afraid he will turn up again," said Granger apprehensively.
"We'll try to be ready for him," said Obed coolly, "but I don't mean toborrow any trouble."
By this time their new acquaintance had satisfied his hunger. He turnedgratefully to Obed Stackpole.
"How can I thank you for your great kindness?" he said earnestly. "Ifeel that you have saved my life."
"Tut, tut." said Obed, "I've only done as you would have done in myplace. Obed Stackpole isn't the man to let anyone go hungry when he hasenough and to spare. But finish your story, my friend. How long is itsince you parted company with that skunk, Fletcher?"
"I think it is only seven days, but it has seemed a month."
"And didn't you meet anybody humane enough to relieve your hunger?".
"Yes, during the first four days, but not for the last three. Part ofthe time I lost my way, and did not meet anyone. I hope you will neverknow such torments as I have known in that time."
"Amen to that! And now, my friend, what are your plans?"
"I should like to go back to Melbourne," said the stranger hesitatingly."If you say so, we'll fit you out with three days' provisions, and youcan push on."
"I hardly like to go alone."
"I am sorry, for your sake, that we are going the other way. You see wehaven't made our pile yet, and must go on. I wish we were on our wayback, with our pockets well lined. Although you have been robbed, you'vegot a good sum waiting for you in Melbourne."
"True; I shall be all right when I get there, but as I am at presentsituated, it seems very uncertain when I shall have that good fortune."
"I'll tell you what you'd better do, Granger. Come along with us, andjoin the first party we meet bound for the city. You will, at allevents, be sure of your victuals till then."
"I believe your advice to be good, and will accept your kind invitation.When I met you I was about worn out, but the tea and food have put newlife in me, and my strength has returned."
After an hour's halt, the little party resumed their march. They werecompelled to go so slowly, in consequence of the difficulties of theway, not caring, of course, to get ahead of the oxen, that Granger waseasily able to keep up. He proved to be a pleasant addition to theparty, and all were glad to have exchanged Fletcher for him. They werenot destined to travel long together, however, for before nightfall theyfell in with a party of eight persons bound for Melbourne. The twoparties halted, and had a conference. Granger's story being told, theyagreed to let him join their party, in consideration of a faircompensation which he agreed to make on his arrival at Melbourne.
"Good-by, Granger," said Obed, as they parted. "I think you're all rightnow. I wish you good luck for the balance of your journey."
"Thank you, Mr. Stackpole," said Granger, grasping the Yankee's handcordially. "If I do, I shall feel that I am indebted to you for my goodfortune. I shudder to think what would have been my fate if I hadn'tfallen in with you."
"Then don't think of it! Good-by. Perhaps we shall meet again."
Granger also shook hands with Harry and Jack, and so they parted on thebest of terms.
"I wonder whether we shall meet with any more of that mean skunkFletcher's victims," said Obed. "He's in a pretty mean business."
"There's no doubt about that," said Harry. "I'd rather live poor all mylife than live by fleecing my neighbors."
Toward the close of the day they entered a much pleasanter country. Inplace of sandy clay, baked hard in the sun, alternating here and therewith a moist bog, they came to tall grass, trees of great height, andmeadows suitable for grazing. The cattle revelled in the rich feed, andObed suffered them to eat their fill, feeling that they had worked hardand deserved it. Though it was rather earlier than usual, they decidedto encamp for the night near the margin of a creek, shaded by trees of agigantic size.
Harry looked longingly at the clear stream, and a vision rose before himof a pond in his native town where he had been accustomed to bathe.
"Jack," said he, "let's have a swim."
"I'm with you," said Jack promptly. "I'll bet you a shilling I'll be inthe water first."
"I'll make a try for it anyway." But Jack, being more simply dressed,was as good as his word, and plunged into the creek first. Harry wasscarcely half a minute behind. The boys swam, dived, and frolicked asboys of their age will, and were loath to come out at the last. Aftertheir experience of mud and heat the bath seemed to them delicious.
"I haven't enjoyed myself so much since I came to Australia," said Harrywith a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I wish I could have a bath everyevening."
"So do I," said Jack; "I mean to have another to-morrow morning."
They slept soundly all night, but early in the morning, as consciousnessreturned, Harry was startled by the sound of hearty laughter. He lookedat Jack and Obed in amazement, but both were fast asleep. Indeed, thesound seemed to come from above. He looked up into the tree beneathwhich they had encamped, but could see no person concealed among thebranches. He did, however, notice a peculiar looking bird, a
nd it dawnedupon him that the laughter proceeded from it. He remembered now to haveheard of the bird peculiar to Australia, popularly known as "thelaughing jackass." This was the first chance he had had of hearing it,and he woke up Obed and Jack to hear it also.
"That beats all I ever heard," said Mr. Stackpole. "I wish he'd tell uswhat's the joke, and we'll laugh too."
This was not the only sound they heard. A flock of white cockatoos wereroosting on the tree, and favored the party with their dissonant cries.They are described as having "most sharp and rasping voices."
"If that's singing," said Obed. "I shan't be afraid to try it myself."
"Don't you sing, Mr. Stackpole?" asked Jack, smiling.
"I thought I could once, when I was in my teens. I attended a singingschool, and went in the attic one Sunday mornin' to practise. Soon myfather was at the foot of the stairs, and asked me what I meant bysawin' boards up in the attic Sunday mornin'."
Of course the boys laughed, but in spite of Obed's disclaimer thoughtthey would prefer listening to him to the cockatoos.
They got ready to move at seven, the boys having made sure of a bathfirst. They were not destined to proceed far, however. About teno'clock, as they were skirting the woods, six men on horseback rode outfrom the leafy covert. They seemed inclined to dispute the passage ofthe party.
"What can they want?" ejaculated Harry, with a startled look.
"I expect they are bushrangers," said Obed.