The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-13
TIE LUCKY SHOT.


take OF my heavy riding cost.
i VERY wet, indeed, [ repli Il. I've ba
. my share OF it during my thirty miles rid
b. to-day.
J. Mine host conducted me 10 room with
z cheeIy hre burning in the CRATE, and hzyin
oeen served with good hot supper. beea
B to feel more comfortable. ] drew my chai
up 10 the FIRE, encased my feet in a pair q
D easy slippers and filed my pipe prrparator,
to quiet smoke, when was disturbed b,
J the entrance OF my host.
Won't you join the company in the mex
! room sir We have social club held her
twice week, and perhaps they may ANUS
you during the evening"
with pleasure 1 replied. 80, taking M
pipe, followed my lannlord into the Isrp,
room, Which was almost filed with a au
merous company. At the moment of m,
entrance they were listening with eyidep
satisfaction to story told by one of their
nnnher Ny bost briefly introduced me
ana L tooS chair close TO the story teller
ana prepared to enjoy my smoke.
N""' Mr White, you must begin youI
story again, in honor Of the gentleman. Sc
Mr.. White recommended.
Y ou must know, gentlemen he began
'that the scene OF my tale lies in Australia.
Just about the time OF the gold fever there
The tones OF the speakers voice seemed
familiar to me, and gave him searching
look What did l see +? The lobe Of his left
ear was missing. l half started from nv
seat uPsetting glass at my elbow. and
startling the company generally.
4 i beg pardon, gentlemen; a sudden sDasm
that IS all - l stammered out
That is the same man. soIilouuIzsd.
L was supplied with fresh glass. and Mr.
White resumed
We'll. ] was only young fellow at the
time, and got bitten by the gold fever like
many other people beside. Every paper
contained dazzling accounts Of the riches To
be found In that far-of land. so at last 7
made up my mind to go aud try NV luck.
When l told Mary, she cried, and tried TO
dissuade NE, but it was OF no use; Was
determ inedi and soon after left home for
London, where I entered my name on the
oOoks as steerage passenger on board the
chpPer-buit liner, Australasia
Mary was his swestheart,' interrupted
my left-haad Beighbor
L well remember the day we sailed. The
scene at the docks was very Affecting
Husbands were parting from wives. brothers
froi3 sisters, fathers from children. young
fellows from their sweethearts, and l was
not sorry when the tug towed US out to sea
We were motley company There were
representatives Of ali classes -Iaborers. me-
chanics, brOken-dOwn LAWYERS, students
clerks, and sprinkIing, too, of the hangers
on about town, and even a couple OF Metbo-
dist ministers. All were going to try their
fortunes IN the New Eldorade. We had had
very good weather during our voyage, aud 1
suffered but little from sea-sickness. I
made many acquaintances, but there was
one man l took an aversion too. He was
called Mapping Bill. He was tall, broad
shouldered fellow with a great shock OF red
hair and a close cropped beard a 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 the reverse of quiet and
respectable man.
In due time We arrived at Melbourne. Ii
was then mere collection OF wooden hous.
es ana hastily thTCwn-up shanties, and was
peopled by representatives from nearly all
civilized nations on the face OF the earth -
Twenty Of US formed party, bought some
tools, and proceeded to the diPgings on foot
Arriving there, we bought claims, and set to
work to unesrth the long-talked Of gold -
My chum was steady going young fellow,
called Sandy "a ScOtcbman. We dug a
shaft, hauled up the gold bearing earth, and
washed it into a large box 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 a week or so we
found little or nothing, and my golden
dreams began to wane. Then one morning
Sandy gave a shout OF joy, aud hastily as
cending the shaft, saw in the cradle sever.
al nuggets of pure gold. l was half mad
with delight, and fo- the rest of the day
worked with the energy of two men Be-
fore nigEtfall we had more than twenty
ounces of small nuggets and dust We
stitched it up in small canvas bags, and hid
il for safety in the floor of the tent. We
went on this way Tor months, then our
claim began to give out.
Just about this time q convoy vas going
TO Melbourne to take some gold to the bank
there. We therefore agreed to send some OF
ours to be deposited in the bank and get
notes In exchange. When we got to the
place of starting l was surprised to see,
escort, my shoek-headed voysger. l men,
toned my distrust of him to my chum and
in consequence we only sent half Of the in
tended quantity. The fellow evidently
knew l dlstrusted him, for when l went up
with our parcel be gave q malicious look
that boded me no good. The escort nun
bered about ten or fifteen well armed troop
ers, with q four-horse wagon, and they left
early in the morning for their destination
We gave them three ringing cheers at the
boundaries Of the camp, and wished them 9
safe return. l bad a singular forbOding
that | had seen the last OF my gold, but l
mentioned my fears to none but my chuu.
The day following l went to Mat Durn's
drinking-hut-a place frequented by the
lucky finders and loafeTs-to hear the days
news. The saloon was full of diRgers. Some
were discussing the days finds; others were
playing poker, the stakes being nuggets OF
dust the majority were standing at the bar
drinking and smoking. 1 called for drink,
filed short cutty, and took 3 seat among
the card d-payers.
We'll, Tom, how's your luck?' said broad
shouldered Yorkshireman who had come
oyer with me.
Very poor at present. L replied.
Have hand then, man winning dust at
poker is better than digging
L joined the game and played a while. At
last one of the players threw up his hand
and said he was cleaned out so, thinking il
might be my turn soon, stopped. l finish