A Bush Girl's Romance, etc

Front matter

In the Gui.i.y A BUSH GIRL'S ROMANCE BY HUME NISBBT, AUTHOR OF " BAIL UP ! " " THE DIVERS," " THE BUSHRANGER'S SWEETHEART," "THE QUEEN'S DESIRE," "THE SAVAGE QUEEN," &C, &C. WL'itfy Illustrations bg i\z gmtbor. LONDON : F. V. WHITE & CO., 14, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C DEDICATION TO MY DEAR FRIEND, PHILIP MENNELL, F.R.G.S., Author of "The Coming Colona-," &c, &c, i beg to inscribe this romance of Western Australia, In token of my warm appreciation of his great talents and real goodness of heart, also in commemoration of that brief, but remarkably pleasant trip AA-e had together on board the Himalaya, Avhen, with some other matters, Ave discussed a good deal about " The Coming Colony." He is a man, take him for all in all.

Preface

. Mv Dear Mennell, — How much I am indebted to you, not only for valuable information, the result of your OAvn personal observation, but also for the books and notes, &c, Avhich you lent me, on Western Australia, to help me AA-ith the data of my present romance, Avoids fail to express ; therefore, I do the only thing that is left to me, failing words, and that is to dedicate my book to you, as a slight return for the benefit I have derived from your most valuable, compact, and reliable, as Avell as beauti fully-composed Avork, " The Coming Colony," and also for the great comfort which your constant, kind, and appreciative friendship has been to me for the past years of my busy life. In this vast Sahara, London, even the most loving of friends cannot often meet ; noAV and then our caravans " out-span " together, as on that Himalaya trip.

Again fate forces us apart ; yet I do not think we forget these " out-spannings " while Ave are driving our cattle in other directions. It may be the converse Ave have, or the genial atmosphere Avhich surrounds us at such

PREFACE.

. IV times that keeps memory green ; they comfort, at any rate, many a lonely hour which hard Avork cannot quite fill up, and prove to us that the links are not broken although stretched out — No, Ave do not forget. You know my unshaken faith in Australia, that great " rising child," and how profoundly I share in your belief about the golden future of Western Australia, as "The Coming Colony." We have both looked upon it Avith our own eyes, and can therefore speak with some authority about its possibilities ; we both know the strong and virile people Avho are produced from this mighty land ; Ave both knoAv their strong points and agree about them, how bank smashes and other kicks behind do not hurt them : — indeed, so young and impulsive are they that these little punishments do them a Avorld of good, for Avhat is a sound kick or a hearty cuff to a stalwart youngster?

It may make him smart and rub the place ruefully for a short time, but it must do him a AA-orld of good, almost as much good as Avhat Mr. Andrew Lang playfully terms " snoAv-balling," does to an author. In the following pages I have tried my best to give a faithful picture of Australia in its \A-estern portion. If I have not been all laudation of the people I like and admire so much, it is AA-ith the best intention and Avith a loving purpose that I point out some shortcomings — you Avill not, perhaps, agree Avith me, and the " rising children " may hoAvl a bit, but that is nothing. Only

PREFACE.

. V think that my " snoAV-balls " are very small and soft ones, Avithout a single slate or stone in any of them, as I would not really hurt the "kids " for a gold mine. But — Avhile I can laugh as I pick up and make a fluffy sno\A*-ball to fling at a friend Avho may be making himself ridiculous by his strutting ; — as a lover of the primith-e races of mankind I must get out my revolver and shoot straight, and without any attempt at sentiment, at those remorseless wretches Avho Avould seek to enslave South Sea Islanders, or "disperse" the original Lords of the Australian soil, the Aboriginals. Trusting, however, in spite of its many imperfections, and perhaps differences from your own opinions, that you may enjoy the reading of this Romance, with its gastronomic Bushranger, Lawless Lover, and daring minx of a Bush girl, and that their adventures may proA-e of interest to numerous other readers, both throughout Great Britain and the Colonies that I love so Avell — Believe me, my dear friend, to be Yours ever cordially, The Author.

Hogarth Club, 36, Dover Street, Piccadilly, W., 1^94. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. — Lost in the Bush. The Rescue . i II. —The Honourable Percy Shafton. io III. — A Successful Colonist . . . 21 IV. — Love Under Difficulties . . 30 V. — Helen's Mission .... 40 VI. — At Turro-side Station . . . 49 VII. — Captain Wildrake Discourses on the Science of Gastromony . . 59 VIII. — Helen Discovers Something . . 70 IX. — A Fashionable Young Man's Wardrobe 79 X. — Sold ...... 89 XI. — Police Instructions .... 99 XII. — A Scratch Supper . . . . 109 XIII. — James Danton begins his Journey . 118 XIV. — Crocodile Station . . . . 127 XV. — Tiger and Black Snakes . . .137 XVI. — In the Bush 147 XVII. — Worrogonga 157 XVIII. — Captain Wildrake's Police Troop 166 XIX. — Wildrake's Mission . . . .176 CONTENTS. chap. page XX. — Dispersing the Natives . . 185 XXI. —The Finding of Worrogonga . 195 XXII. — The Bushrangers' Visit . . 204 XXIII. — Uncle Timothy sees some Strange Things . . .214 XXIV. — Wildrake Purchases "The Maria" 224 XXV. — Love's First Kiss . . . 233 XXVI. — Over the Brink .... 243 XXVIL— The Bank Robbery ... 252 XXVIII. — Uncle Timothy becomes the King of a very Wealthy Realm . 261 XXIX. — The Lovers are Trapped . .271 XXX. — The Robbery of Turro - Side Station . . . . . 281 XXXI. — Derrick Wild makes a Masterpiece . . , . . .291 XXXII. — His Last Breakfast and Long Ride . . . . . 301 ENVOI. — Twelve Months After . .310

Chapter I. Lost In The Bush

— THE RESCUE. A DREARY arid desert, over which the December sun was slowly setting and which even its effulgent glory only appeared to accentuate and render more desolate. Some dAvarf, scrubby trees and Avithered-looking bushes Avere the only upstarting objects which gave variety to this flat plain of grey soil and bleached sand, Avith, at the north, the termination of dense forests reaching like a tattered purple line across the horizon, and, at the southern extremity, Ioav flat ranges of hills as barren-looking in the distance as the desert Avhich they bound in. Yet it was a glorious picture of vivid colouring that overarched this monotonous shadoAV land ; to the eye of an artist it was the correct kind of landscape, for that present effect of sky — a great and unbroken plain, either of earth or sea, alone is required Avhen the sun is going doAvn at its best.

An ocean becalmed, or only broken up by faint ripples, Avhen the gold and crimson can be seen quivering amongst the sapphire, perhaps is the most perfect to a colourist's sense of proportion, but next to that a flat tableland, with a distant range of hazy mountains and a mirrorlike sheet of water in the centre becomes all-sufficient to his critical demands : thus he can Avatch the phantas magoria without a jar to his pleasure. All these exacting conditions Avere fulfilled at this present hour, the sun was going doAvn after the fashion that the great Turner would have loved, a golden ball rapidly getting richer tones as it sank Avithin the fleecy masses of vapour clouds, those semi transparent films of russet, purple and rose, Avith the myriad feather flakes above of shining gold and silver, drifting in front of the opal and tender blue miles of atmosphere, all agloAv and radiant Avith the melloAv shafts of light throAvn up.

The mirrorlike pool of Avater Avas not Avanting either. There it lay about three miles distant, reflect ing in more robust harmony the softer blendings of colour about it, a sleeping palette-shaped lake of about tAvo miles long, burning in the centre of that sombre-tinted plain. In the sky a vulture floated lazily, as if AAraiting on its coming supper, the one spot of darkness Avanted to intensify the gloAving of the livid gold, and on the plain a human figure staggered along, the one object Avanted to intensify the vastness and aAvesomeness of that solitude. It Avas the figure of a young man of about tAventy two, clad in a digger's or tramp's scant costume, Avith the sAvag of a digger or tramp slung over his back, a battered grey felt hat drawn over his broAvs, a flannel shirt, which had once been red, open at the throat duck trousers much bepatched and ragged and held up by a narroAV leather strap, boots with the uppers gaping and the soles almost Avorn off, and a -soiled BUSH— THE RESCUE. 3 blanket rolled lengthways and seemingly almost empty, it was so attenuated in its bulk.

His face originally had been good-looking and of the Saxon type, Avith regular enough features, blue eyes, yellow beard and moustache and hair of a light broAvn. But the skin Avas caked Avith dust and dirt, and baked to a brick-red Avith the fierce suns he had passed under ; the blue eyes glared from bloodshot settings, and the moustache, beard and hair, Avhich fell in tangled curly masses over his shoulders, Avere dry and drab -coloured. He had been a stahvart and tall felloAV, but the flesh had fallen aAvay from him and his parched skin clung tightly to his lanky frame, so that he looked more like a scarecroAv than a living man as he dragged himself along Avith sIoav and unsteady steps, yet with a famished expression of eagerness, tOAvards that yet distant gloAving lake, for he was starving and burnt up with consuming thirst.

The vulture above kept close to him, as if it knew what Avould be the end of that weary and hopeless journey — the young man was the coming feast it Avas Avaiting so patiently upon. " Ten days since I last tasted anything except gum leaves," he muttered huskily. " Five days since I had my last taste of water, and on my back I carry a thousand pounds in nuggets. God ! will this loneli ness never end ? Is there no one except myself in this cursed land ? " He stumbled and fell on his face as he spoke, and lay there so long without moving that the vulture, thinking the hour had come, made a swoop down- I* Avards— then, as suddenly, darted up again, for the young man had raised his head. " Water ahead ! I must reach that waterhole, and then I may be able to go on, for I must be near some habitation.

Over these hills there must be humanity — there must be — there must be ! " He made an effort, got up on his feet, and took a futile run for a feAV yards ; then he fell again, while the vulture once more dreAv near, but cautiously this time. " No, I must not hurry, or I'll never reach that Avaterhole. If I could only forget it for awhile, for it is maddening to see it gleaming so far aAvay ! I'll try." Again he rose and fixed his bloodshot eyes upon the noAV crimson sun, Avhile he staggered omvards, covering yard after yard Avearily, yet getting gradually near to his destination. He Avatched the sun sinking and groAving dusky as it dropped ; his head turned AvestAvard, and his totter ing limbs taking him south, Avatched the change of colour Avith eyes Avhich took little heed of the glory, yet Avith a dreamy sense upon him as if he Avere floating instead of Avalking.

Resolutely he kept his eyes from sinking to the level of that pool, so that AA-hen the sun had nearly touched the horizon he raised his head to a fantastic shaped cloud noAV resting above, and looked at it Avith a vague kind of Avonder as it changed its tints from gold to orange, and then to red flame, finally to become salmon tinted, and soft against the melloAv green. OnAA'ards, Avearily and unsteadily as the gorgeous shades disappeared above, and the clear white lustre of the Australian aftergloAV stole over the sky ; he EUSH-THE RESCUE. 5 must be close to that delicious Avaterhole noAV. Can he afford to look ? Yes, its nearest margin isn't a quarter of a mile dis tant, and it lies like a pool of cool pale green. At the sight all his strength comes back with a flash, and squaring his shoulders and elboAvs he starts forAvard like a runner at the last spurt ; Avhile the vulture takes another circling sAveep higher, as if almost despairing at such unexpected energy.

He has reached it at length, and Avith a harsh cry flings himself on the moist margin, and, plunging his hands and arms into the mud, reaches doAvn his head to drink. " God of heaven ! it is salt ! " With that despairing scream torn from his bursting heart, the young man leaps up, as if he had been shot, and, falling backAvards on the hard clay soil AA'ith out spread arms, he lies motionless, like one crucified, with gaping mouth and eyes staring blindly at the deep blue zenith. The Avatchful vulture does not knoAv Avhat to make of all this ; it is terrified at the glare of these despairing eyes. This inhuman expression of mortal agony is not death, although it is something like and maybe the prelude, yet it must Avait until the blue glare be comes dim, and the quivering limbs perfectly still ; so it circles round and round its intended victim, but Avithout coming nearer.

What has startled this bird of evil omen noAV, and sent it off like an arrow to the north? Not the victim, for he has not moved, and the vulture has waited and Avatched too long to leave it so suddenly Avithout good cause. More of humanity on this desolate plain, that is what has startled the vulture. Three horsemen are riding at a swinging gallop from the east to the west, and coming in the direct track of the motionless figure as it lies under that grayling sky. They are splendidly mounted these three horse men, and seem well enough dressed also — tAvo of them in serge suits, and the third, Avho appears to be the leader, in a fashionable suit of grey. They are skirting the sides of the salt lake, and ride along quickly as if eager to get to their journey's end. " Hallo ! Avhat the mischief lies there ?

" exclaims the leader Avith an oath, as his horse stops suddenly and nearly pitches him. " Some poor devil kicked out ! " ansAvers one of the others as he stoops over his horse's neck and looks at the figure on the ground. " Dash it all ; Avhy couldn't the beggar die some Avhereelse, instead of lying there and startling Sally? Come on, lads." This from the fashionably-attired leader as he urges up his horse. " Hold hard, Captain ! " cried the other, Avho had spoken first ; " he may not be done for." "What's that to us, Hickey? he'll be dead enough before Ave come back. Get along, Sally." " Hold a bit, Captain, he looks like a digger out on the prospecting lay. He perhaps has some nuggets in that SAvag of his ; let's have a look." " Right, Hickey ; it Avon's take a minute to see. Turn the carcase over and find out, Avhile I light one of the late Honourable Percy Shafton's first-rate cigars."

As Hickey dismounted, the leader took from the BUSH— THE RESCUE. 7 breast pocket of his coat a chased silver cigar case, and from his vest pocket a match box of the same material. The first vesta Avent out after a momentary flash, Avhich revealed a dark yet handsome face decorated with a heavy and carefully cared-for mous tache and gleaming jet-black eyes. " Curse the night breeze ! I'll have to dismount to light up." MeanAA-hile Hickey had loosened the sAvag Avith deft fingers, and draAvn it from under the insensible man, Avhom he still left on his back, so that by the time the cigar Avas agloAv the task Avas done, and the bag containing the nuggets Avas in his hands. " There is something solid here, Captain. Give us another light till I see what it is." The other horseman had also leapt to the ground and stood close to Hickey, whom he watched as he undid the fastenings of the bag in the semi-darkness with that natural and undisguised suspicion Avith Avhich thieves ever regard each other when it is a case of handling loot.

" Fair play's a jeAvel, Hickey Black ! so keep your hand out of that yer bag until the Captain strikes another match." " Are ye goin' blind, Rory Murdoch ? " retorted Hickey Avith a fine air of indignation. " Can't yer see that my hand ain't near the mouth of the bag, which most likely hain't got nothing but stones ? " " Stones be hanged ! " cried the Captain rudely, as he settled the question by diving his OAvn hand in and bringing out one of the nuggets. " It doesn't need a light to tell what this is," he said, as he rubbed it be tween his fore-finger and thumb ; " soft and greasy — it's virgin gold." " Hurrah ! " shouted both men joyfully. "Don't be such cursed asses! Close round him while I light my bull's-eye, and then we can reckon up the amount." The figure at their feet never stirred all the time they were discussing these matters ; and noAV as the three knelt together to keep the night air from extin guishing the third vesta, Rory Murdoch chanced to touch the insensible man Avith his hand.

" Hallo, this chap ain't no more dead than I am, Captain Wild." " Dash it ! can't you remember that I am the Honourable Percy Shafton ? " cried the Captain fiercely. " I forgot for the moment ; but all the same he ain't gone, and, Avhat's more, he's coming round." "Let's see." The lamp Avas noAV lighted, and as he spoke the leader turned it tOAvards the upturned face, gaA'e one quick look, and then started back. " By George, boys ! but who is that cove like ? " " The stiff 'un as Ave covered yesterday, boss," cried both men after a steady stare ; " as like as one pea to another if his beard AA-as a bit neater, and his hair a bit shorter, and the dirt washed off his jaAvs — like your namesake, Captain, the Honourable Percy Shafton, as Ave settled for and stOAved away." " That's enough, lads, to alter our plans.

I'm Captain Derrick Wild, still, and he'll be the Honour able Percy Shafton. We'll save his precious life, and make him grateful enough to do anything for us. Meantime, honest Hickey Black, I'll take charge of that bag of nuggets Avhich you're fumbling about so BL'SH— THE RESCUE. 9 absent-mindedly ; those fingers of yours are too sticky for nuggettesting in the dark, my boy." " D'ye think he'll jine us, Captain ? " asked Hickey doubtfully, as he very unwillingly handed the bag over to his chief, Avho, after tying it up securely, attached it to the saddle of his OAvn mare. " What do you think ? " retorted the leader mock ingly. " Did you ever see me fail yet in Avinning over either man or Avoman Avhen I exerted myself to win them ? " "Only the judge and jury, Captain, could resist your friendly Avays."

" Oh, they Avere prejudiced persons," ansAvered the Captain Avith a laugh. " This chap is young, and will OAve me his life, for I mean to nurse him like the most loving Avoman ; and I'm no judge of faces if I don't make him like my dog before he is strong. Hold up his head Avhile I give him a sup of Aveak grog." Pouring out a small quantity of brandy from his pocket-flask, Derrick Wild diluted it largely Avith the water they carried, and Avhile Hickey held up the stranger's head in the right position he Avet the lips first, and then, Avedging open the clenched teeth Avith the handle of his pocket-knife, he alloAved a few drops to trickle down the dry throat. A pause, and then he repeated the experiment, Avhile his companions Avatched him stolidly. " There, he'll be conscious in a moment." With a rattling gasp and a convulsive shiver the fair-haired young man woke up.

" Water, Avater ! " he muttered huskily, and again the cup was held to his mouth. ' Ah ! Where ami?" " With good friends, my boy," ansAvered this modern Samaritan gently. " Food ! I have starved for Aveeks ! " " Not yet, my lad. Have another drink first, and then I'll take you to where you can eat Avith safety." " Yes, yes — drink ! " For the third time he drank, this time draining the flask ; and then, AA'ith a sigh of ineffable content, he dropped his head on his breast and closed his eyes. " Who are you, my lad ? " asked the Captain softly. "James Danton, and an escaped convict. Take me back if you like ; for I am Avearied of my life," murmured the young man drowsily. " I heard of that escape from Sam Belger," observed Rory Murdoch reflectively. " He cut his stick ten months since, and Avas thought to be dead long ago."

"Then he is our man; for Squatter Craven may have a photo of his expected visitor. Let's get back to camp." Lifting the young man tenderly, Derrick Wild laid him across the Avithers cf his blood mare, and then, springing lightly up behind, he held him steady AA'hile he turned back in the direction from Avhich they had come. In another moment, they Avere aAvay under the starry sky, Avith the salt lake lying like ink behind them.

Chapter II. The Honourable Percy Shafton

HELEN Craven was a bush-trained girl in the best sense in Avhich the term could be used — healthy in her constitution and Avholesome in her mind. Never having read any of the so-called realistic or morbidly psychical rubbish with which some of the young authors expend their mental energies and debauch their unsophisticated readers in this latter end of the nineteenth century, she had therefore no idea about the Avickedness of the Avorld or the depravity of the human soul in its natural state, but thought her little Western Australian portion of the Avorld a very nice place indeed, Avhere any young girl might enjoy her self and be merry and free without needing to dread the consequences. Ibsen, I daresay, had been born then and had commenced his miserable mission, since he is noAV a hoary-headed hater of mankind ; and the date of my romance is not so many years ago, so that his coming disciples Avere still in long clothes, therefore absurdly unconscious of such sublimities as " cults," being satisfied then with their milk uncurdled.

Zola also was still in embryo — in fact, during those primitive days, particularly in this primitive portion of the Bush, pessimism Avas as little knoAvn as cigarettes and in digestion ; therefore the inhabitants, if deplorably ignorant, were not unhappy. That is, the working and free portion of the com munity. Many of the convicts, Avhen assigned to good masters, might have been a deal more miserable in the old country during their fugitive moments of liberty than they were working out their tickets here. The aboriginal owners of the land, except during the dispersing seasons, were about as happy as the kangaroos before a grand hunt. The warm sun shone generally throughout the greater portion of the year. Springtime Avas delicious with its flowers and bush heaths ; the fruits in their season seldom disappointed ; the sheep and cattle generally throve and multiplied ; and only the Wurley * caused any discomfort, or an occasional bush-fire made them apprehensive — that is, if Ave except those human, or rather inhuman, beasts of prey, escaped convicts, plying the uncertain occupation of bushranging.

Helen Craven was an exceptionally favoured young person. Her father Avas Avealthy and Avell born, and her mother Avas also a lady. As I have said, she Avas healthy, therefore nearly ahvays happy, and at the age Avhen life spreads out its fairest prospects — namely, eighteen. Not too tall and not too stout, not too plump and not too thin, she Avas that fine, Avell-rounded medium Avhich sensible young men who are not given to brooding philosophy or morbid cultism, ought properly to admire. Dark, Avith richly-toned complexion, rosy cheeks and lips, Avhite teeth, and amber-broAvn eyes Avhich could sparkle Avith pleasure or merriment like sun laved, sand-bottomed, clear but not shalloAV streams, or melt and groAV velvety Avith tenderness under their dark lashes and heaA'y lids. A face oval, Avith arching, Avell-defined broAVS, and small, rounded forehead over which clustered masses of golden-broAvn curls ; a pointed chin, small yet rounded ; a Avell-shaped nose, with ears to match, and a mouth Avith the upper lip a perfect Cupid's bow, and the loAver lip moist and full • her hands were small and tapering, and her feet small and full in the instep.

It did not take much to provoke a laugh on Helen's lips, and Avhen she did laugh it spread rapidly over * Hot wind. her face, lighting up her large and expressive eyes, and exhibiting the double i-oav of pearls in a very infectious fashion. She had read all the novels in her father's limited library — Scott, Thackeray and Dickens, and one or tAvo of George Eliot's and Charlotte Bronte's. Walter Scott AA-as a little heavy for her Avith his introductions, Avhile his heroines Avere just a trifle shadeless and uninteresting ; but his heroes were all right, and his action, Avhen once he gave Avay, thrilling. Thackeray she somehoAv learned to hate personally, and consider, a bit of a fraud, with his grinning skeletons. She Avanted to hear Becky Sharp speak some of her smart sayings, Avhich were ahvays suppressed in the book, before she could quite believe in her witchery ; but Colonel NeAvcome and Esmond AA-ere delicious.

Charles Dickens, hoAveA-er, Avas her hero, and Avhile she read Scott once, and some parts of Thackeray tAvice over, she Avas never tired of taking up and reading all that this genial novelist had ever Avritten. Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot — yes, she admired them both, but some how they didn't grip her as Dickens did. She Avas a very plain young lady in expressing her likes and dislikes. She did not like verse at all ; she could not fancy any person Avho really shaped his or her feelings into rhyme or even blank verse ; she could not have done so herself at any price, and from her OAvn standard she judged others. She had her OAvn untried ideas of Avhat passion was — an incohe rent Avhirhvind Avhich might pour out disjointed Avords in faulty grammar, but could never pause to organise sentences.

The Hon. Percy Shafton had at last arrived, tAvo days before Christmas, and he Avas not in the least like the mental picture Avhich she had drawn of him from his letters to her father. Of course she had seen his portraits ; as a distant connection of her mother's, they had about a dozen of him in the album, taken at different periods of his life from early childhood up to manhood, and generally speaking the portraits Avere fairly like him ; that is, the features appeared to be the same — the same nose, eyes, and contour — but the expression of the original Avas so different from the expression portrayed in the photographs. The original Percy had nothing of the empty superciliousness that the portraits expressed ; he did not close his eyes as his likeness did, nor did he perk up his head in that insufferable fashion Avhich had made her almost hate him before he came.

Why, also, did he ahvays stick his eye glass up when he Avas having his portrait taken, and use it so seldom in real life ? Perhaps the photo graphers made him pose in this ridiculous fashion ; some of them are so senseless with their preconceived ideas of how their sitters ought to pose, and the real Percy was so easy and good-natured that anyone could manage him. His letters also were so different from his general style of conversation. The letters — fortunately they hadn't many of these effusions, and these few were short enough, and seemed penned by a young noodle without one idea beyond his OAvn position in life, his money, or his OAvn selfish tastes, Avhich had not im pressed her. What a change must have come over the real Percy since he last wrote from England ! They only had a hurried note from him on his arrival in Melbourne, saying he Avas coming up by slow stages, and had hired a colonial servant, so Avould be with them about Christmas.