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The Story of Wild Will Enderby

Chapter I. Fresh Fields and Pastures New

page 121

Chapter I. Fresh Fields and Pastures New.

As summer advanced, floods in the Molyneux became more frequent, and the water level became permanently higher, so that it was with much difficulty that the beach claims could be wrought. The Co. suffered severely, for their best ground extended far into the river; and at last all operations were, perforce, suspended, until King Frost should once more chain up the mountain torrents in icy bondage. The Regulations provided for this contingency; and the miners, having duly registered their claims as "protected," scattered themselves over the country in search of "fresh fields and pastures new." Nokomai and the Nevis, beyond the lofty Carrick Ranges, and "Campbell's," on the far side of the loftier "Old Man," or Obelisk Range, became favourite summer diggings.99 But the great attraction was a wild glen, afterwards famous as Fox's,"—otherwise the Arrow River. Mystery—page 122most seductive of influences—invested this locality with illimitable charms. At the time whereof I write, its very whereabouts was an unsolved problem. All that was known was, that a party of miners was working in some remote spot beyond the mountains. "Distance lends enchantment to the view," and busy rumour whispered that the prospectors were gathering gold in fabulous quantities. In search of them there went out men to the east, to the west, to the north—never to the south, for it was believed that the anxiously sought Tom Tiddler's ground was yet farther inland than the Dunstan.100

For a long time all endeavors to trace these prospectors were in vain. And this was all the more vexatious, because some of the party would occasionally come into the town for provisions and disappear again, leaving not a trace behind. Sometimes green hands would start away with them, deluded with the hope of being led into the promised land. But it ever ended in unprofitable wanderings in the wilderness. Crafty old bushmen followed them for miles, only to lose them at the end. The credulous and the "knowing ones" shared the same fate. Some camped out with the prospectors at night, and in the morning—lo! they were not. Others "spotted them," at dawn and missed them at sundown, and still the golden mystery remained unsolved.

Mr. George Washington Pratt ruminated much, consuming an inconceivable quantity of "plugs" in the process. He silently revolved these stories of the prospectors and their "Will-o'-the-Wisp" propensities, page 123and having arrived at a conclusion, he convened a meeting of the Co. to discuss the matter.101

First, duly voting himself to the chair, he proceeded to expound his views thus:—

"See here, pardner, these here boys don't go fooling around for nothing. I've been putting two and two together, and I find they make four, pretty much as they used to do. They've struck a big old placer somewhere, you bet. They are on heavy gold, too, for I saw some of the stuff that they traded away down to the township with one of the providers of garments for the Gentiles.102 Yes, Sirree! I saw that gold and handled it, and I'll lay a level bet that it came out of a mountain stream; for it's coarse and water-worn, just as I've seen it in California."

Said the junior,—"They were traced twelve miles up the Kawarau before they were lost last time."

"Yes, and the time before they were tracked thirty miles up the Molyneux. I've a kind of notion that they're digging somewhere at the back of Mount Pisa yonder. And by Jehoshaphat! I'll run them down if they show up again before next full moon. I observe they always come along either at new moon or in the last quarter, so that they can calculate to skedaddle in the dark anyhow. Say, pardner; I propose that I have leave of absence on urgent private business next time the prospectors visit our noble city. You concur? Right you are! So it's resoluted accordingly. Enter it up in the records, if you please, Sir, and we'll get it confirmed next meeting."

About a week after this conversation, Mr Barney Roche dropped in for a gossip, as he was now fre-page 124quently in the habit of doing. For the Irishman was too genial to bear malice on account of the dispute wherewith his acquaintainceship with our friends commenced. Indeed he greatly respected the Senior Partner, for the neat and able manner in which the latter had argued the question of title on that occasion.

"Well, boys," said Barney, "is it the grand news ye've been hearing?"

"No! What is it?" asked Will.

"I spelled over last week's paper," said the Senior Partner, "and the only news I could discover was that sugar was up two cents a pound, and there wern't no square gin in the market. That's all."

"Oh! To the devil wid your sugar and your square gin. Shure its gould I'm telling ye of."

"Yes! Glad to hear it. Havn't seen much of late in these parts."

"Listen, now! That ould Fox is in again wid one of his mates, and they've brought a bag of gould, as much as the two could carry they say,—not a word of a lie in it,—and it's off they'll be again in the morning. So me and my mates, and Sandy McCorkindale, and Tim Whelan, and a few more mean to follow them whin they go out, and we'd be glad if yerself'd go wid us, because we all know ye're a 'cute man, and its the likes of yez that's wanted in this business."

"Thank you, sir, for your esteemed opinion," said the Senior Partner, "but I ain't on."

"Oh, bother!" persisted Barney, "there's a tidy fortune for all of us if we find these new diggings. Come now, say ye'll join us, and here's the hand of a man that never went back on his friend."

page 125

The Senior Partner did not take the proffered hand. To have done so would have been to pledge his companionship in the proposed expedition. But he said:—

"See here, mate, I'll tell you what I conclude to do. I'll jest go down to the township with you, and take the bearings of these here prospectors, and I'll shape my course thereafter accordingly."

Forthwith he took a reef in his belt, stowed away a fresh plug in his upper starboard locker, hoisted his beaver on the maintop, and cracking on all sail, shaped his course for the township with Barney as consort.

99 Nokomai and the Nevis - Both Valleys that were settlements for miners that later became sheep and cattle stations.

100 Tom Tiddler’s ground - a place that is seen as no-man’s-land that resources can be taken with no interference.

101 Will-’of-the-Wisp - a thing that deludes or leads astray.

102 Gentiles - Non-jewish person.