The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-09
THE LUCKY SHOT.

flue IU-udy "
Mine host conducted me to room
with CHEEKY fire burning in the CRATE,
and, having been served with good hot
supper and my tavorite glass of hot
brandy, began to feel more comfort
able.
drew up my chair to the fire, encased
my feet in a pair OF easy slippers, and
filled my meerschaum preparatory to
quiet smoke, when l was disturbed by
the entrance of my host.
won't you join the company in the
next room, sir. We have social club
held here twice Il week, and perhaps
they may amuse you during the even
ing"
with pleasurew I replied. So, TAX
ing my glass and pipe, l followed my
iandlord into a larger-room, which was
almost flied with numerous company.
At the moment OF my entrance they
were listening with evident satisfaction
to story told by one OF their number.
My host briefly introduced me, and l
| took a chair close to the ry-teller, and
prepared to enjoy my smoke.
| CHOW, Mr. White, you must begin
your story again, in honor OIL the gen.
| tlemen." So Mr.. White recomm need.
| "You must know, gentlemen" he be-
gan, "Lhat the scene of my tale lies in
| Australia, just about the time Of the
| gold lever there"
The tones of the speakers. voice
seemed familiar to me, and Z I'VE him
| searching look.
What did l seer
The lobe of his left ear was missing.
| half-started from my seat, upsetting
| my glass of brandy by. my elbow, and
startling the company generally.
| kI DpR nAruOD. pentlpmAn. cnd1an
spasm, tnat is all!' 1 stummered out.
| at is the same man." l sOlilOquized.
! was supplied with a fresh glass OF
brandy, ana Mr. White resumed:
"Well, l was only young fellow at
The time, and / got bitten by the gold fe.
yer, like many other people beside. Ey-
cry paper contained dazzling account,
OF the riches to be found in that ial- If
and, SO AZ last l made up my mind to 20
and try my luck.
"When L told Mary, she cried, and
| tried to dlssuade me, but it was of no
use, | was ueLe, mined, and soon alter [
left home for London, where l entered
my name on the books as a steerage
passenger on board the clipper bullt
liner Australasia"
| "Mary was his sweetheart" inter-
posed my lelt-hand neigupor.
| ~ well remember the DAY we sailed,
| Fhe scenes at the docks were very al
iecting. husbands were parting from
wives, brothers from sisters, young tei-
| lows from their sWeethearLs, ana | was
not sorIy When the tug lowed us out 10
| sea.
1--WE were motley company. There
were representatives OF all classes-lA-
| Dorers, mechanics, b. oken-down law
yers and students, clerks, goodly
sprlnkling, too, of the hangers-on about
town, and even couple Of Methodist
minis sters. All We're going to try their
fortunes at the new Eidorado.
1--WE had very good weather during
our voyage, and 1 suffered bur little
from sea sickness. l made many COM
panions, buL there was one man took
an aversion to. He was called Wapping
Bill. He was u tall, broad-shouldereu
lfellow, with q great shock Of red hair
and close-crupped beard; a pair OF
small, lerret-ike eyes, that seemed to
vanish beneath his shaggy eyebrows
when any one addressed him, and an
lexpression that showed him TO be the
reverse Of quiet and respectable lei
low.
In due time we arrived at Melbourne.
1t was then mere collection Of wooden
lhouses, and hastily throWH-up shanties,
land WAS peopltd by representatives
rom nearly all civilized nations on the
face Of the earJh.
'Twenty OF u, formed a party, bought
some tools, and proceeded to the dig
slngs on loot. Arriving there, we bousnl
claims, and SET to work to unearth the
long alked Of gold. My chum was a
sleady-soipg fellow, called SANDY, a
ScOtchman.
ave dug shaft, hauled up the gold
l
uoX with plates full of holes. The water
washed away the earth, leaving the
gold, in the form OF nuggets and dust, on
the plates. For the nrst week or SO we
FOUND little or nothing, aud my Colleen
dreams be gan to Wane. Tnen, Que morn
ing, SANDY gave a shout OF joy, and hast
luy ascending The shaft, l. saw in the
cradle several small nuggets Of pure
gold.
81 was half mad with delight, and for
the rest oil that day worked with the
energy Of two men. Before nightlall we
mad more than twenty ounces OF small
nuggets and Gust. We stitched it up in
small canvas bags, ana hid it for safety
in The floor OF our lent. We Went on in
This way for months, then our claim be-
gan TO give out.
"Just about this time convoy was
going to Melbourne, to take some gold
| 20 the bank there. We therefore agreed
to send some of ours 10 be deposited III
the bank, and to get notes and ex-
change.
"When we got to the place of starting
| was surprised to see among the
mounted troopers forming the escort my
shock-leaded fellow-voyaSer.
| 81 mentioned my dlslrust of MIN to
my chum; aud, in consequence, We'only
sent half Of the Intended Quantity.
''Tne fellow evidently knew l dis.
trusted him, Tor when L went up with
our parcel he gave me u malicious look
That boded me no good.
! "The escort nuAbt red about ten or
fifteen we1!-arm4d troopers, win a 1our-
horse wagon, and they lett early in tue
morning lor their destination. We gave
them three ringing cheers at the bound
aries OIL the camp, aud wished them Il
sale return.
~ had singular toreboding that l
had seen The last OF my god, DuU L men
| TONED my lears TO hone buC my chum.
| "fhe day following L Went to Mat.
| DurRs urinkIug hut-a pace frequenteu
by the luc&y finders and Ioa ers-to ne al
the days news. The saloon was .un OF
uIgg3r , &c. Some ~ere discussing the
ga. - tnus. others were p,aylng uVker