Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-09-19


5O'e,mounts the mist, is heard, at intervals,
The voice Of psalms, the simple song Of
And the hired girl swearing at the cook stove!
oil Citg Derrick.
The Lucky Shot.
An Adventure I'm Australia.
every wet day, SIR said the CHEEKY
host of the travellers Rest, !" as he assist.
ed me to TAX off my heavy riding coat.
b '::Very wet, indeed,"1 replied. give
had my share -. of it during my thirty
miles ride to-day" - a. &,.# @e.~.:..s
My host conducted me to a room witt,
4 CHEEKY fire burning in the crate, and
having been served with good hot sup
per, and my tavorite glass of good hot
brandy, I began to feel more comfort
able. 7 drew my chair up to the fire, en-
cased my feet in pair Of easy slippers,
and filled my pipe preparatory to quiet
smoke. when l was disturbed by the en-
trance of my host.
"Won't you join the company in the
next room, sir2 We have social club
held here twice 4 week, and perhaps
they may amuse you during the even
ing" :.
with pleasure," I replied. So taking
my glass and pipe, followed my land
lor4 into large room, which was al
most filled with numerous company.
At the moment Of my entrance they
were listening with evident satisfaction
to story told by one Of their number.
Ny host briefly introduced me, and I
took a chair close to the story-teller, and
prepared to enjoy my smoke. " +
Nov, Mr.. White, you must begin
your story again. in honor of the gentle
man." So Mr.. White re commenced.
''You must know, gentlemen" he be-
gan, ''that the scene of my tale lies in
Australia, just about the time of the gold
fever there" - III
The tones of the speakers voice seem
ed familiar to me, and I gave him
searching look. What did see9 The
lobe of his left ear was missing. I half
started from my seat, upsetting the glass
of brandy by my elbow, and startling the
company generally.
Il beg pardon, gentlemen; sudden
spasm-that is all! stammered out.
sit is the same man." I soliloquized.
Twas supplied with fresh glass of
brandy, and Mr.. White resumed:
"Well, I was only ayoung fellow at the
time, and had got bitten by the gold
fever, like many other people besides.
Every paper contained dazzling accounts
of the riches to be found in that far-off
land, so at last made up my mind to go
and try my luck. When told Mary, she
cried, and tried to dissuade me, but it
was no use; I was determined; and soon
after left home for London, where I en-
tered my name on the books as steerage
passenger on board the clipper-built
liner, Australasia"
''Mary was his sweetheart" interposed
my left hand neighbor.
II we'll remember the day we sailed.
The scene at the docks were very affect
ing. Husbands were pairing from wives,
brothers from sisters, fathers from
children, young fellows from their sweet
hearts. and was not sorry when the tug
towed us out to sea. We were a motley
company. There were representatives Of
all classes-laborers, mechanics, broken
down lawyers, and students, clerks, aud
good sprinkling, too, of the hangers-on
about town, and even a couple of Method
list ministers. All were going to try their
fortunes in the New Etdorado. We had
very good weather during our voyage, and
I suffered but little from sea.sickness.
made many acquaintance, but there was a
man took an aversion to. He was called
Mapping Bill. He was tall, broad
shouldered fellow, with great shock of
red hair and close-cropped beard; pair
of small, ferret-like eyes that seemed to
vanish beneath his shaggy eyebrows when
any one addressed him, and an expression
that showed him to be tn, reverse of a
quiet and respectable man. ~ { J.
TN due time we arrived at Melbourne
1t was then mere collection Of wooden
houses and hastily thrown up shanties,
and was peopled by representatives from
nearly all civilized nations on the face of
the erath. Twenty Of US formed party,
bought some tools, and proceeded to the
digging on foot. Arriving there we
bought claims, and set to work to un-
earth the long talked Of gold. My chum
was steady going fellow, called Sandy
"a Scotchman.ze We dug = shaft, hauled
up the gold bearing earth, and washed
it in large box with plates lull of holes,
The water washed away the earth, leav-
ing the gold in the form CT nuggets and
dust ON the plates. For week or SO we
found little or nothing, and my golden
dreams began to wane.. Then one morn
ing Sandy gave shout ofjoy, and, hasti-
| ly~ ascending the shaft, I saw in the era
die several nuggets of pure gold. was
half mad with delight, and for the rest OF
the day I worked with the energy OF two
men. Before nlghttall we had more than
twenty ounces of small nuggets and dust
We stitched it up in small canvas bags
and hid it for safety in the floor ofthe
tent. We went on this way for months
then our claim began to give out.
T ssJust about this time convoy was
| going to Melbourne to take some colo
to the bank there. We therefore agreed
to send some of ours to be deposited il
the bank, and get notes in exchange
When we got to: the, place Of starting, j
was surprised to see, among the mounted
troopers forming the escort, my shock
headed fellow-voyager. I mentioned ny
1disttrust of him to my chum; and In con
sequence we only sent half Of the intend
ed quantity. The fellow evidently knew
i i distrusted him, for when 4 went III
with our parcel, he gave = malicious lool
THAT BODIED me no good. The escort mum
bered about ten or fifteen = well armet
troopers, with q four horse wagon, ant
fthey left early in the morning for thei
destination. We gave them three ring
49, Il -