these he every day submitted to a careful dressing _a laNazarene_.
Another member of our interesting "firm," who went by the name of"George," was simply an educated idiot.
In the opinion of many persons the man who has received a bookeducation--whatever his natural abilities--must be a highly intelligentperson. For my part, I think different; and I have adopted my belief,from an extensive experience of mankind.
It has been my misfortune to meet with many men of the class called"educated," who knew absolutely nothing that was worth the knowing; andGeorge was one of these. He had received college instruction, yet noone could spend five minutes in his company without thinking of thephrase "ignorant idiot."
Like most people of his class, his folly was made amusingly conspicuous,by his assumption of an intellectual superiority over the rest of hiscompanions.
Like most people, too, he had his vexations, the greatest being that hissuperiority was not always acknowledged. On the contrary, he was oftenchagrined by the discovery: that the light of his genius--like that ofthe lamp that burned in Tullia's grave--could not be seen of men. Hiseccentricities were at times amusing. Perhaps he had not been createdin vain, though it was difficult to determine what had been the designof bestowing existence upon such a man--unless to warn others againstthe absurdities, by which he daily distinguished himself. He was aliving lesson in the sixth volume of the great work of Nature; and nonecould study him, without subjecting themselves to a severeself-examination. Useless as I may have supposed the existence of thisman to be, I must acknowledge myself indebted to him for many valuablelessons. My observation of his follies had the effect of awakeningwithin me certain trains of thought, that removed from my own mind manystrong prejudices hitherto possessing it. In this sense, I might say,that, he had not been created in vain, though his intended mission couldnot have been that of delving for gold on the fields of Ballarat.
Another of our firm had been an apothecary's assistant in London; andhad but recently made his _debut_ on the diggings. He could not thinkof anything else, nor talk on any other subject, than the "shop," andwhat it contained; and I could not help fancying myself close to achemical laboratory, whenever this individual came near me.
The other two partners of the concern used to make their appearance onthe claim, about ten o'clock in the morning; and generally in a state ofsemi-intoxication.
These two men kept my mind in a constant state of trepidation--that is,when they were at work with me. I could never feel safe, in the shaftbelow, when I knew that either of the two was at the windlass.
Any man, in the least degree affected by drink, is a dangerous associatein the working of a gold mine--especially when entrusted with the chargeof the windlass. He may not see when a bucket wants landing; or, whentrying to lower it, he may hang the handle over the wrong hook--analmost certain consequence of which will be the crushing in of the skullof whoever may have the misfortune to be below!
No wonder that I felt some apprehension, while toiling in thecompanionship of my intoxicated partners.
Volume Two, Chapter XXXII.
A SUDDEN DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.
So much did my apprehensions prey upon me, that I had some idea ofselling out my share and forsaking the partnership; but I had not beenvery long in the concern, before becoming convinced that we were sinkinga shaft into one of the richest claims upon the line.
It was alike evident to me, that a great deal of hard labour would haveto be performed, before the gold could be got out of it; and that myassociates were the wrong men for this sort of thing.
Fortunately at this crisis a man of a different character purchased oneof the two shares, that had remained unsold. Fearing that the othershare might fall into the hands of some trifler like the rest of myoriginal partners, I purchased it myself; and then underlet it to ayoung fellow, with whom I had formed an acquaintance. This young manhad been hitherto unsuccessful at gold-digging. His name was JohnOakes; and I had learnt from him that, he was by profession a sailor,yet--unlike the majority of sailors met with on the gold fields--he wasa man of temperate habits; and seemed determined to save money, if hecould only get hold of it.
Up to this time he had not found an opportunity of acting upon his goodresolves: for every claim, in which he had taken a share, had turned outa failure.
Before telling Oakes of my intentions towards him, I simply informedhim, that I had purchased the eighth share in our claim, and offered tounderlet it to him.
"There's nothing I'd have liked better," said he, "than to get into aclaim along with you. You are always lucky; and I should have been sureof getting something at last; but unfortunately I haven't the money topay what you have advanced."
"Never mind that," rejoined I. "The claim is pretty safe to be on thelead; and you can pay me, when you have obtained your gold out of it."
"Then I accept your offer," said Oakes, apparently much gratified. "Ineed not tell you, how kind I think it of you to make it. I feel sureit will bring me a change of luck. I've never had but one decent claim,since I've been on the diggings; and the gold I got out of that wasstolen from me. Rather, should I say, I was robbed of it. Did I evertell you how that happened?"
"No--not that I remember."
"Well, then, let me tell you now. There were three of us inpartnership, in a good claim on Eagle-Hawk Gully, Bendigo. We got outof it about forty-eight pounds of pure gold. During the time we were atwork, we used to take the gold--as quick as we cleaned it out--to theEscort Office; and leave it there on deposit, until we should finish thejob.
"When we had worked out the claim, we all went together to the office,and drew out the deposit.
"My two mates lived in a tent by themselves; and they proposed that weshould go there--for the purpose of dividing our `spoil.'
"On the way, we stopped at a tavern--with the owner of which they wereacquainted, where they borrowed some gold weights and scales. They alsopurchased a bottle of brandy--to assist us, as they said, in thepleasant task that we had to perform.
"We then continued on to their tent. After going inside, we closed thedoor--so that no one should interrupt us, or see what we were about.
"Before proceeding to business, each of my mates drank a `taut' of thebrandy; and, although I did not care for it, to keep from quarrellingwith them, I took a thimbleful myself. Immediately after swallowingthat brandy--although, as I have said, there was only a thimbleful ofit, I became insensible; and knew nothing of what passed afterwards. Idid not recover my senses, until the next morning, when I found my twomates gone, and nothing in the tent except myself! They had taken thewhole of the gold--including my share--along with them; and I have neverset eyes upon either of them since.
"That lesson has cured me for ever of any propensity for strong drink,besides making me very particular as to the men I work with. What sortof fellows are they in the claim with you?"
"That is a subject on which I was just going to speak to you," said I."They are not of the right sort for the work we have to do: one of themis an old woman, another a young one, and a third is worse than either.Two others are drunkards. There is only one--and he lately entered withus--who can be depended on for doing any work."
"It's unfortunate," said Oakes; "but I mustn't lose the chance of a goodclaim, for all that. I've no other prospect of getting one. I'll comeover in the morning; and go to work with you. Perhaps, when the shaftis sunk, and we get a sight of the gold, there may be a reformationamongst your mates."
Next morning, at seven o'clock, Oakes made his appearance upon theclaim. George and the apothecary came up a little later; and were soonfollowed by Mr John Darby.
When Oakes and Darby met, they recognised each other as oldacquaintances.
"Is it possible, Darby, that I find _you_ still in the colony?" askedOakes. "I thought that you had long ago started for England."
"No; I did not intend going home," replied Darby, evidently not too wellpleased at encountering his old acqu
aintance. "I only went to Melbournefor a few days--to recruit my health, which was never very good atBendigo. After getting all right again, I came out here."
Darby continued talking as if against time; and, as we were looking outwith some impatience for the two drunkards, we allowed him to go onwithout interruption.
I had requested all the members of the "firm" to be early upon theground on that particular morning. A full company had now been made up;and I wanted to come to some understanding with my partners--about amore energetic "exploration" of the claim.
The two "swipers," as they were called, soon after made theirappearance; and, as they drew near, I could perceive that anotherrecognition had taken place.
On seeing the new partner, both turned sharp round; and then startedoff, at a