"No, it is not necessary. He can't do any harm now. I came in the nickof time, boys, didn't I?"
"Indeed you did!" said Harry earnestly. "He was beginning to choke me."
"What was it all about?"
"We had given him a meal, but he wanted to make off with the basketbesides. As this would have left us utterly without food, I objected."
"The mean skunk! I'm glad I came up in time to settle him."
"Won't you have something to eat yourself, Mr. Stackpole?" asked Harry,bethinking himself that his deliverer might need refreshment.
"I don't mind if I do," answered Obed. "The fact is, I'm feeling kinderhollow. I feel a gnawin' at my vitals that isn't pleasant. This is primefodder; where did you raise it?"
While Obed was eating--with hearty relish, it may be added--Harryrelated briefly what had befallen Jack and himself since they had partedcompany.
"You're in luck, boys," was Obed's comment. "You fared better than I,for you've had your square meals, while I've had only one besidesthis."
"Where was that?" asked Harry.
"At the same place where you passed the night. I got there about an hourafter you left, as well as I can make out. The gal was very kind, andgave me a tip-top breakfast. I ate till I was ashamed, and then left offhungry. That's why I've got such an appetite now. Yesterday I didn'thave but one meal, and I've had to make up for that."
"Did Lucy tell you we had passed the night at her father's house?"
"Lucy! Seems to me you got mighty familiar," said Obed in a joculartone. "She didn't tell me what her name was. I suppose she looked uponme as a dried-up old bach."
"She's a nice girl," said Harry emphatically.
"So she is. I'm with you there. But about your question--I asked her ifshe had seen anything of two chaps about your size, and she told meenough to show me I was on your track. She told me which way you went,and I follered. She was a little shy at first, not knowin' but I mightbe an enemy of yours, but when she'd made up her mind to the _contrary_she up and told me everything. Well, I struck your trail, and here Iam."
"I for one am delighted to see you, Obed," said Harry cordially.
"And I for two," added Jack, smiling.
Mr. Stackpole seemed gratified by the pleasure evinced by the boys.
"Well," he said, "we're together once more, and now we must hold acouncil of war, and decide what's to be done."
"With him?" asked Jack, pointing to the tramp.
"With him first of all; I take it you don't want me to invite him tojoin our party?"
"His room is better than his company," said Harry.
"I agree with you. According to my idea, we may as well leave him wherehe lies."
"But won't he starve?"
"He can get his hands free after awhile," said Obed, "but not till afterwe are at a safe distance. You needn't be afraid about him. Anyhow theworld wouldn't lose much if he did take passage for another."
"That's so, Obed, but I wouldn't like to feel that we were responsiblefor his death."
At this moment the prostrate man opened his eyes, and as his glancelighted on Obed, they gleamed with the old look of rage. He tried to getup, and of course discovered that his hands were tied.
"Loosen my hands, you scoundrel!" he exclaimed.
"If you mean me by that pet name, my esteemed friend," said Obed, "Irespectfully decline. I'd rather look at you with your hands tied."
"Do you want me to kill you?" demanded the tramp furiously.
"Not at present! when I do I'll let you know. Come, boys, we may as wellbe going. This gentleman would rather be left alone."
"Unloose me first, and I won't harm you," said the other, trying tostruggle to his feet.
"I don't mean you shall. Good-by, my friend. I can't say I wish to meetyou again. I will take the liberty to carry off your stick, as you won'tneed it with your hands tied."
Obed and the boys started off, followed by the most fearful execrationsfrom their late acquaintance. They had scarcely gone a quarter of a milewhen they met two mounted police, who halted their horses and inquired:"Have you seen anything of a man, tall and spare, dark hair and eyes. Wehave traced him to this neighborhood, and think he must be near."
"What has he done?" asked Obed curiously.
"Murdered a man at the mines, in a drunken brawl."
"We've just parted company with him," said Obed. "I found himexperimentin' on my young friend here, but come up in time to block hisgame."
"Put us on his track, and we will share the reward of a hundred poundswith you."
"I'll do it. Boys, stay here and I'll go back with these gentlemen. I'lljoin you in an hour."
Obed was as good as his word. Within an hour he was back again, with thetwo policemen, followed by the man whom we have called the tramp.
His hands were more securely fastened now by a pair of handcuffs.
CHAPTER XX.
THE BOYS ARRIVE AT BENDIGO.
"You are entitled to half the reward offered for the apprehension ofthis man," said the leader of the police to Obed Stackpole. "Icongratulate you. Fifty pounds is a sum not to be despised."
"Especially when a man has been robbed of all he possesses bybushrangers," said Obed. "If you'll excuse me, captain, why does yourgovernment allow them rascals to roam round the country, plundering andkilling honest men?"
The captain of police shrugged his shoulders.
"We can't help it, my good man. We do all we can," he answered.
"In my country we would soon put a stop to it."
"You mean America?"
"Yes; the land of the Stars and the Stripes," said Obed proudly.
"It is more difficult here," observed the police captain. "The nature ofthe country makes pursuit difficult. Besides, we have had so manyconvicts sent out here in past years that there is a large proportion oflawless men in the colony. Some of these men have made themselves veryformidable. There is Captain Stockton, for instance."
"_Was_, you mean, captain."
"I don't understand you."
"Captain Stockton is dead."
"Do you mean this? How do you know?" inquired the captain of policeeagerly.
"He was killed yesterday by one of his men."
"What evidence have you of this?" demanded the captain incredulously.
"Them two boys saw him shot," said Obed, indicating Harry and Jack.
"Tell me all about it, young man," said the captain to Harry. "It willbe good news at Bendigo. Returning miners are always in fear of thisfamous bushranger, Stockton. He doesn't care so much to attack partiesbound to the mines, for they are not supposed to have much with them,but those returning to Melbourne generally carry more or less gold, andare worth capturing."
Harry gave a succinct account of his adventures while in the power ofthe bushrangers, and the scene of which he had been a witness. Thecaptain of police listened attentively.
"This is good news," he remarked. "There will be a new captainappointed, of course, but there is not another man connected with thegang who can take Stockton's place or do as much mischief as he hasdone."
"How far are we from Bendigo, captain?" asked Obed.
"Two days' journey, or perhaps more."
"A long distance, considering we have no money."
"You will have half the reward. Your share will be fifty pounds."
"That won't do us any good now, unless you'll be kind enough to advanceus a part of that sum."
"I would if I were able, but I am not provided with any money beyondwhat I need. You and the boys may come with us, however, if you wish."
"I should like nothing better, captain. Once at Bendigo, and we'llmanage to shift for ourselves."
"Very well, so let it be."
I pass over the events of the next two days. Obed and the boys, afterall their troubles, found themselves provided with an official escort,and on the morning of the third day arrived at the famous gold-fields ofBendigo.
Ballarat and Mount Alexander preceded Bend
igo in point of time, butBendigo has been far more productive. As the little party descended ahill made white by the sandy dirt thrown out of the mines, they sawbelow them Bendigo Creek, yellow as the Tiber, running sluggishlythrough the valley, which on either side had been dug up by prospectorsfor gold. All about on the slopes of the hills and in the valley wererude huts, hastily put together, the homes of the miners. Some of themwere built of solid trunks of trees laid horizontally, after theAmerican backwoods order of architecture. The interstices were generallydaubed with clay to make them water-tight, and the roofs were coveredwith sheets of bark, kept down by logs laid upon them. There were tents,also, made of slabs, and covered with canvas. Still others were coveredwith bullock hides.
To Harry and Jack the sight was a novel one, and they regarded theextemporized village with interest.
Obed's eyes glistened, and he rubbed his hands with delight.
"This seems like home," he said. "It's just like Shantytown inCaliforny, where I worked three months last year. I say, boys, how doyou like it?"
"I shouldn't like to live here very long," said Harry.
"I like shipboard better," said Jack.
"I agree with you, boys," said Obed, "but it'll suit me well enough if Ican find enough gold here. When I've made my pile, Australy won't holdme long. I shall make tracks for America. We have no bushrangersthere."
"But you have Indians," retorted the police captain, who did not quiterelish the strictures upon the colony of which he was an official. "Iwould rather be captured by a bushranger than scalped by an Indian."
"I agree with you, captain, but the Indians won't scalp you unless yougo where they are. I never saw one till I was past twenty-one."
"Indeed!" said the captain in evident surprise. "I thought they were allover the country. Why, one of your countrymen told me they wouldsometimes surprise families within ten miles of your great city of NewYork, and scalp them all. He said he was brought up--raised, he calledit--twenty miles away, and was obliged to barricade the doors andwindows every night, and keep a supply of loaded muskets by the side ofhis bed, to resist the Indians in case they made a night attack."
Obed laughed till the tears came to his eyes, and the two boys alsolooked amused.
"Did you believe all this, captain?" he asked.
"Why not?" asked the captain, looking offended. "My informant was acountryman of yours."
"He was stuffing you, captain."
"_Stuffing_ me! I don't understand," said the captain, puzzled.
"He saw that you knew very little of America, and he practised a littleon your credulity--isn't that the word?"
"How do I know but you are doing the same now? Probably you want to giveme a favorable idea of your country."
"I only want you to judge it correctly, captain. Why, there aint no moredanger of being scalped in New York than in London."
"I presume not, _in_ New York, but I am speaking of the neighborhood ofNew York."
"So am I. I'll tell you what, captain, if you can find me a case of aman that's been scalped within five hundred miles of New York within thelast fifty years, I'll give you my share of the reward. Of course ifit's in Canada, it don't count."
"I can't accept any such wager. I have no means of proving it, even ifit is so."
"That's true, squire; but I'll give you an idea. Harry, how many Indianshave you ever seen in your life?"
"About half a dozen," answered Harry, after a pause for reflection.
"And you, Jack?"
"I never saw one that I can remember."
"And yet you were both born in the States. You see, captain, Indians arenot so abundant in our country as you supposed. Jack has never seen anIndian, but he has seen a bushranger; eh, Jack?"
"I have seen more than I wanted to," answered Jack, smiling.
By this time they had descended the hill, and were on the borders of themining settlement. They had now attracted the attention of the miners,and when the prisoner was recognized there went up an angry shout, and aband of swarthy, bearded men advanced menacingly to meet them.
"Give him to us!" they cried. "Give up the murderer! We will make shortwork of him!"
CHAPTER XXI.
BUYING A CLAIM.
The face of the prisoner, as he met the angry glances of the miners,betrayed extreme fear. In spite of his terrible crime, Harry could nothelp pitying him when he saw the gray pallor that overspread hiscountenance.
The captain of the police was a brave and determined man, and though hislittle force was outnumbered five to one he showed no signs ofyielding.
"What is it you want, men?" he demanded sternly.
"We want that man--the murderer," was the unanimous cry.
"What would you do with him?"
"String him up to the nearest tree," replied a brawny miner.
"There is no occasion for you to punish him--he is in the hands of thelaw," replied the captain.
"He may escape. We want to make sure of him."
"I will answer for it that he does not escape. You know me, and you canaccept my assurance. Is that satisfactory?"
There was a sullen murmur among the miners. It was evident that theywere not wholly satisfied.
The captain of police watched them keenly and saw that there was dangerof an attack.
He drew a pistol, and holding it firmly in his hand, said: "The firstman that interferes with me in the discharge of my duty, dies. I giveyou fair warning."
A determined man generally carries his point, even against odds. Had thecaptain showed the slightest sign of wavering, the mob would have beenupon him. But they saw that he was in earnest, and meant what he said.
"How long is he to live?" asked the brawny miner already referred to,after a slight pause.
"I shall take him before the magistrate at once, and you know he is notlikely to defer punishment."
The police magistrate who dispensed justice, and frequently injustice,at Bendigo, was noted for his severity, and this assurance seemed tosatisfy the miners. They followed the cavalcade, however, to make surethat the captain kept his word. It may be stated here that, at thisearly period in the history of the colony, the judicial forms whichprevail in other countries were for the most part dispensed with, andpunishment was swift and certain, especially where life or property hadbeen attacked.
Harry and Jack followed the crowd to a wooden structure more pretentiousthan most of the buildings roundabout. The magistrate--whom I will callJudge Wood--was at hand. He was a short, stout man, of severe aspect,and had a harsh voice.
"Whom have we here?" he asked quickly.
The captain of police answered the question, relating also where andunder what circumstances the capture was made.
"What have you to say for yourself, my man?" he asked, turning to theprisoner.
"I am innocent," was the reply in trembling accents.
"Of course. You all are. I never had a man brought before me who was notinnocent," said the magistrate with a sneer. "Have you anyaccomplices?"
"Your honor, I am innocent, as I have already told you."
"Answer my question!" said the magistrate sternly.
"No, your honor."
"Ha! You alone are guilty then. Captain, are there any witnesses? thoughit is hardly necessary. The man's face shows his guilt."
It will easily be seen how much hope the prisoner had of getting offwith such a judge presiding at the trial. Luckily for the cause ofjustice the man was undoubtedly guilty, and so the judicial proceedings,hurried and one-sided as they were, did not entail any injustice. Inhalf an hour the trial was completed, a conviction was obtained, and theunhappy wretch was sentenced to execution on the following morning.Meanwhile he was to be confined in a structure set apart as a prison.
"Well, are you satisfied?" asked the captain, as he passed theringleader of the miners.
"I don't see the use of waiting till morning," grumbled the miner. "Thejob might as well have been finished up at once."
"You can rest sati
sfied. The man hasn't long to live."
This proved to be the case. During the night Harry and Jack, who wereaccommodated with beds in a hut near the prison, heard a noise and asound of men's voices, but they were too fatigued and worn-out to bethoroughly roused. In the morning, when they left the hut, they neededno explanation. From a lofty branch of a gum-tree a hundred yards to thewest dangled the body of the unfortunate criminal, a terrible spectacle,contrasting painfully with the bright and cheerful morning. They learnedafterward that the prison had been guarded by a volunteer company ofminers, who detected, or feigned to detect, the prisoner in an attemptto escape,--probably the latter,--and forcing an entrance, laid violenthands upon him, and saved the law officers the trouble of executinghim.
The captain of police didn't learn what had happened till morning. As itchanced, Obed Stackpole was with him when he received the information.
He took it very coolly.
"What are you goin' to do about it, captain?" asked Obed.
"Nothing."
"Do you allow such doin's here?"
"It doesn't matter much. The man was to have been executed this morningat any rate. He only lost a few hours. It has saved us some trouble."
"Suppose he was an innocent man?"
"But he wasn't, you know. And now, Mr. Stackpole, if you will come withme, I will see about your getting your share of the reward."
"Thank you, captain. I won't deny that it'll be particularly convenient,seein' I'm reduced to my last cent."