Year: 1862

situated in most desirable locality, IN
the midst of delightful woodland scenery,
ard surrounded by very extensive park
like grounds. There was a right Of free
warren attached TO the property, and good
shootingin the ncighborhood.


The diggers in the neighborhood, went
away one after another. However, there
was store standing about half mile
of, and SO long as that remained there
was no great cause Of complaint ~
butcher had TO need Of while powder
and shot lasted, for the woods yielded
plenty Of game, and in abundant variety.
There were quail, pigeons, (these are fine
birds with golden wings, larger than the
English wood pigeon,) paroqnets capital
in pie; not to speak of the smaller birds,
which were not to be despisel when the
larger ones were scarce. Then sometimes
a shot might be had at an opossun, or
bandy coot, or some other four footed
tenant of the woods, which, like the
birds, went into the frying pan, aud was
consumed without sauce or ceremony.


On the whole, | was not dissatisfied
with my company, nor particularly pleased
when / found my privacy intruded upon
by a stranger. One night, on returning
home from work, found stranger lying
asleep on my bed, with his hat on and his
face buried in his arms. stood for a
moment in admiration of his GOODNESS, and
then stirred him up with pick until he
awoke.


"Who are you, pray?" | asked.


He turned towards me, and said: OTIS
me, Mr.. Smith; don't you know Gard
ner?"


His clothes were in disorder, and his
face haggard and dirty; but | recognized
him at length, man who, few weeks
before, had been working in the gully,
but who had been absent since that time.
He began to tell story of how he had
gone with party to the Oven Diggings,
then Just discovered. He had met with
no luck at the Ovens, and as he had quar-
relied with his party, he had come back
to stop with me. This was highly pleas
ant and satisfactory. / knew nothing Of
Mr.. Gardner, and was by no means dis
posed 20 have his society thrust upon me
in this manner. was at a loss to unler-
stand why he should have come to me,
for had never held much intercourse
with him. L remembered him as a civil
spoken man with whom had sometimes
exchanged a word, but who had never
shown disposition to court any society
beyond that of the man with whom he
was working.


However, it would not do to turn him
out at once; the night was coming on,
aud ho was evidently too much fatigued
to go elsewhere for lodging. He had
sold his tent and everything belonging
to it, having trusted, as he informed me,
entirely to my hospitality. gave him
to understand that hc was welcome to the
shelter of the hut for the night, but that
l wished to work alone, and did not want
company. He thanked me so earnestly
for this surly offer, that l became better
disposed towards him, especially when he
insisted upon making himself useful, and,
tired, as he was, set TO work to cook our
supper. There was, however, something
strange about his manner lie never
spoke, unless in answer to question; and
then his reply was short, and uttered in
an odd, incohcrent sort of way, for which
could not account AS soon as supper
was over, he seated himself in a corner
of the fireplace with his face buried in
his hands. After awhile, when / sup
posed he was fallen asleep, sudden
shiver passed over him, and he moved his
position without looking up, and doubled
himself up still more. i asked him if he
was cold, and he stared at me, as though
surprised at the question. lie was not
cold, he said. | advised him to turn in;
and he then got up and proceeded to
heap some logs on the fire, after which he
rolled himself in the blankets. did the
same; and having determined to turn my
sulky companion out of doors on the
morrow, fell asleep. 1t


Next morning, as soon as I awoke,
Gardner called to me in faint voice, and
asked me to bring him drink of water.
On going to him l found that he was, in
fact, too i'll to move. During the dayh
illness increased, and proposed to go to
the government camp for doctor; but
he begged me not to leave him, and in
sisted that he should soon be better. 1t
seemed to me that he suffered more pain
of mind than Of body, and the convulsive
twitching of his face, as lac lay with closed
eyes in bed, was not a pleasant sight to
see. He expressed his gratitude for such
service as | was willing TO render him,
and was evidently anxious to give mo as
little trouble as possible; but when
asked him to explain what allied him, and
to avail himself Of any knowledge OF
medicine. | might possess, he would make
no answer, or only say, as before, that he
should soon be better.


Daring the night which followed, I was
awakened by loud groaning. The bed
which Gardner occupied was at right
angles with mine, sudas the fire was still
burning, could see his face from where
| lay. lie was evidently struggling with
some fearful dream His breast lloavcd
convulsiycly; gurgling noise issued
from his throat, and presently he broke
out with cry Of "Ncd--Nedl' several
times repeated. remembered that Gard