The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-02-18
TI1ELUCKY SHOT.

sisted me- to take oil my heavy ridln!
Very wet, indeed" I replied. CIV,
had my share of it during my thirf.
miles ride to-day"
Mine host conducted me to a ron
with a CHEEKY fire burning in the CRATE
and having been served with Il good no
supper, | began to feel more comfortable
drew my chair up to the fire, encaset
my feet in a pair of easy slippers ant
filled: my pipe preparatory to a. quic'
smoke. when l was disturbed by the en-
trance of my host.
Wont you join the company in thu
next room, sir2 We have Il social ciul
held here twice a week, and perhap
they may amuse you during the evening.
with PLEASURE replied. So, tax
ing my pipe l followed my
landlord into the large room, which wa:
almost filed with a numerous company
At the moment of my entrance they wcr
listening with evident satisfaction to
story tod by one of Their number. NJ!
host briefly introduced me, and took
chair close to the story-teller, and pre-
pared to enjoy my smoke.
"Now, MIR. White. you must begir
your story again, in honor of the gentle
man. So Mr.. White recommended.
You must know, gentlemen" he be
gan, THAT the scene of my tale lies ii
Australia, just about the time of the golc
fever there"
The tones of the speakers voice seemed
familiar to me, and l gave him a search
ing look. What did | see? The lobe o
his left ear was missing. I half started
from my seat, upsetting a glass at my
elbow, and startling the company gen
orally.
II beg pardon, gentlemen; a sudden
spasm-that is ALP l stammered out.
at is the same man." soliloquized.
was supplied with a fresh glass, and
Dir. White resumed:
"Well, l was only q 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-off land. sc
at last Lmade up my mind to 60 and try
my luck. When l told Mary, she cried,
and tried to dissuade me, but it was OF
no use; | was determined; and o at
ter left home for London, where l en-
tered my name on the books as a steer.
age passenger on board the clipper-built
liner, Australasia:" q.
MARY was his sweetheart" inter.
ruptcd my left-hand neighbor.
II well remember the day VT sailed.
!. The scene at the docks was very affecting.
Husbands were parting from wives,
brothers from sisters. fathers from chill
dren, young fellows from their sweet
-. hearts, and / was not sorry when the tug
lowed US out to sea. We were a motley
company. There were representatives OF
all classcs-hborers, mechanics, broken
down lawyers, students, clerks, and
sprinkling, too, Of the hangers. an about
town, and even a couple of Methodist
ministers. All were going to try theil
fortunes in the New Eldorado. We had
had. very good weather during our voy'
age, and l suffered but little from sea-sick'
ness. made many acquaintance, but
there was one man | took an aversion to.
He was called Mapping Bill. He was a
tall. broad >houldcred 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 IN expression that showed him to be
the reverse Of a quiet and respectable
man.
SIN due time we arrived at Melbourne.
It was then a mere co. lection of wooden
bousesand hastily thrown-up shanties. and
was peouled by representatives from near
ly all civilized nations ON the face of the
earth. Twenty of US formed a party,
bought some tools, and proceeded
to the diggings on foot. Arriving
there, we bought claims. and set to work
to unearth tie long-talked of gold. Ny
chum was a steady-going young fellow,
called Sandy-a Scotchman. We dug
shaft, hauled up the gold-bearing earth,
and washed it in 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
week or so we found little or nothing.
and my golden dreams began to wan
Then one morning Sandy gave a shout
of Joy, and hastily ascending the shaft,
! saw'in the cradle several nuggets OF
= pure gold. l was half mad with delight,
and for the rest of the day l worked
with the energy of two men,. Before
nightfall we had more than twenty oun,
ces OF small nuggets and dust. We
stitched 1t up in small canvas bags. and
hid i for safety in the floor Of the tent.
We went on this way for months, then
our claim began to give out.
Just about this time q convoy was
going to Mc.bourne to take some gold 10
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, among the mounted
troopers forming the escort, my shock
headed voyager. l mentioned my dis.
trust of him to my chum: aud IN
consequence we only sent half of the
intended quantity. The fellow evidently
knew | diStrustcd him, for when l went
up with our parcel he gave a malicious
look that BODIED me no good. The
escort numbered about ten or fifteen we'll
armed troopers, with a four-horsc wagon,
and they left early in the morning fol
their destination. We gave them three
ringing cheers at the boundaries Of tho
camp. and wished them Il safe return. ]
had q singular forboding that l had seen
the last OF my gold, but l mentioned my
fears to none but my chum.
1.-The day following l went to Mat
Duin's drinking hut-a place frequcnted
by the lucky finders and loafcrs-to hear
the days news. The saloon was full OF
diggers. Some were discussing the days
finds; others were playing poker, the
stakes being nuggets of dust; the major
ity were standing at the bar drinking
and smoking. l called for q drink,
filled q SHIRT Guilty, and took a seat
among the card players.
Well, Tom, how's your luckl" said
a broad shouidered Yorkshireman who
had come over with me.
"'Very poor at present. l replied.
octave a hand then, man; winning
dust at poker is better than Digging
Il joined the game and played a while.
At last one Of the players threw up his
hand and said he was cleaned ont; so,
thinking it might be my turn soon, I
stopped. l finished my glass and pre-
pared to leave he room. Just as l got
to the door a burly digger came rushing
in, almost upsettin.g me, and uttered the
most lr. ghtful oaths. The entire saloon
= was in an nproar in an instant. Revolvers
and knives were drawn, and q dozen
voices shouted out, What's the matter!'
"'Matter enough!' cried the invading
digger, with another volley of explosives.
THE escort been attacked, and the gold
is gone!'
"Words fail to describe the scene
that ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced and ravcd like madmcn. When
the tumult was somcwh t subsidized, I
managed TO make out that the wagon
had been attacked in the dead of night.
by a party IF armed rangers. A tight
had taken place, not a trooper had
been killed, AMI the gold had been