 Chapter 65 Part 1 of It is Never Too Late to Mend. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. It is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reid. Chapter 65 Part 1. Black will no sooner found himself inside the tent than he took out a dark lantern and opened the slide cautiously. There lay in one corner the two men fast asleep side by side. Casting the glare around, he saw at his feet a dog with a chain around him. It startled him for a moment, but only for a moment. He knew that dog was dead. Mephistopheles had told him within an hour after the feet was performed. Close to his very hand was a pair of miners' boots. He detached them from the canvas and passed them out of the tent. And now, looking closely at the ground, he observed a place where the soil seemed loose. His eye flashed with triumph at this. He turned up the openings of the tent behind him to make his retreat clear, if necessary. He made it once for the loose soil, and the moment he moved forward, Robinson's gut lines twisted his feet from under him. He fell headlong in the middle, and half a dozen little bells rang furiously at the sleeper's heads. Up jumped Tom and George weapons in hand, but not before Black will had wrenched himself clear and bounded back to the door. At the door in his rage had been balked. He turned like lightning and leveled his pistol at Robinson, who was coming at him cutlass in hand. The X-thief dropped on his knees and made a furious upward cut at his arm. At one and the same moment, the pistol exploded and the cutlass struck it and knocked it against the other side of the tent. The bullet passed over Robinson's head. Black will gave a yell. So frightful that for a moment it paralyzed the men, and even with this yell he burst backward through the opening and with a violent wrench of his left hand brought the whole tent down and fled, leaving George and Robinson struggling in the canvas like cats in an empty flower sack. The baffled burglar had fled but a few yards. When casting his eye back he saw their helplessness, losing danger and hatred he came back, not now to rob but murder. His left hand lifted high and gleaming like his cruel eye. As he prepared to plunge his knife through the canvas flash bang flash bang bang came three pistol shots in his face from the patrol who were running right slap at him, not thirty yards off and now it was life or death. He turned and ran for his life, the patrol blazing and banging at him. Eighteen shots they fired at him one after another, more than one cut his clothes and one went clean through his hat but he was too fleet, he distanced them. But at the reports diggers peeped out of distant tents and at sight of him running flash bang went to pistol at him from every tent he passed and George and Robinson who had struggled out into the night saw the red flashes issue and then heard the loud reports bellow and re-echo as he dodged about down the line and then all was still in calm as death under the cold pure stars. Crack they put up their tent again the patrol came panting back. He has got off but he carried some of our lead in him. Go to bed captain we won't leave your tent all night. Robinson and George laid down again thus guarded the patrol set by the tent. Two slept one loaded the arms again and watched. In a few minutes the friends were actually fast asleep again lying silent as the vast camp lay beneath the silver stars. Crack and now it was cold much colder than before. Darker two no moon now only the silver stars that makes one shiver. Nature seemed to lie stark and stiff and dead and that accursed crack her dirge all tended to shivering and gloom yet a great event approached. Crack a single event a thousand times way dear to the world each time it comes then if with one fell stroke all the kingdoms of the globe became republics and all the republic's empires so to remain a thousand years an event a hundred times more beautiful than any other thing the eye can hope to see while in the flesh yet it regaled the other senses to and bless the universal heart. Before this prodigious event came its little herald sweeping across the face of night first came a little motion of cold air it was dead still before then an indefinable freshness then a very slight but rather grateful smell from the soil of the conscious earth next twittered from the bush one little hesitating chirp. Crack went the legubrious quail poo-pooing the suggestion then somehow rocks and forest and tents seemed less indistinct in shape outlines peeped where masses had been. Jug jug went a bird with a sweet juggle in his deep throat crack went the ill omened one directly disputing the last inch of nature but a gray thrush took up the brighter view. Otak otak otak o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee o-twee sang the thrush with a decision as well as a melody that seemed to say ah but I am sure of it I am sure I am sure wake up joy joy from that moment there was no more crack the legubrious quail shut up in despair perhaps in disdain and out gurgled another jug jug jug as sweet a chuckle as nature's sweet voice ever uttered in any land and with that a mist like a white sheet came to light but only for a moment for it dared not stay to be inspected I know who is coming I am off and away it crept off close to the ground and little drops of dew peeped sparkling in the frost powdered grass Yuck yuck oh gee oh filiera po otak otak tak oh gee oh gee oh gee oh gee jug jug jug jug off we go off we go and now a thin red streak came into the sky and perfume burst from the bushes and the woods rang not only were songs some shrill some as sweet as honey but with a grotesque yet beautiful electric merriment of birds that can only be heard in this land of wonders the pen can give but a shadow of the drollery and devilry of the sweet merry rogues that hail the smiling morn ten thousand of them each with half a dozen songs besides chattering and talking and imitating the fiddle the fife and the trombone kneel gal kneel gal kneel gal wind a leather head take care of my hat cries a thrush in a soft melancholy voice then with frightful harshness and severity where is your back a box your box your box then before anyone could answer in a tone that said devil may care where the box is or anything else jarok the doc jarok the doc rock the doc jabok jabok then came a tremendous cackle ending within the struppers who who ha from the laughing jackass who had caught sight of the red streak in the sky harbinger like himself of morn and the piping crows or whistling magpies modulating and humming and chanting not like birds but like practiced musicians with rich baritone voices and the next moment creaking just for all the world like punch or barking like a pug dog and the delicious thrush with its sweet and mellow tune nothing in an English wood so honey sweet S is otaku otaku otaku Oh Tui o o oh Tui o o oh Chi o Chi o Chi o Chi but the leather heads beat all kneel gal kneel gal kneel gal Off we go off we go off we go followed by rapid conversations the words unintelligible but perfectly articulate and interspersed with the artist's chuckles plans of pleasure for the day no doubt then re-title, title, title, title, tiddle, tiddle, playing a thing like a fiddle with wires, then off we go again and bow, wow, wow, jug, jug, jug, jug, jug, and the whole lot in exuberant spirits, such extravagance of drollery, such rolic angelity, evidently splitting their sides with fun and not able to contain themselves for it. Oh, it was twelve thousand miles above the monotonous and scanty strains of a European wood, and when the roving and laughing and harshly demanding baca boxes, and then as good as telling you they didn't care a feather or baca boxes or anything else, gyroctodoc, chabok, chabok, chabok, and loudly announcing their immediate departure and perching in the same place all the more, and sweet low modulations ending and putting on the steam and creaking like punch and then almost tumbling off the branches with laughing at the general accumulation of nonsense. When all this drollery and devoury and joy and absurdity were at their maddest, and a thousand feathered fountains bubbling song were at their highest, then came the cause of all the merry hubbub, the pinnacles of rock glowed, burnished gold nature that had crept from gloom to pallor, burst from pallor to light, and life and burning color, the great sun's forehead came with one gallant stride into the sky, and it was day. Out shone ten thousand tenths of every size and hue and shape from Isaac Levi's root of white canvas down to sugar loaves and even to miserable roofs built on the bare ground with slips of bark under which unlucky diggers crept at night like badgers, roofed beds no more, the stars twinkling through chinks in the tester, the myriad tents were clustered for full five miles on each side of the river, and it wound and sparkled in and out at various distances and shone like a mirror in the distant background. At the first ray the tents disgorged their inmates and the human hide began to hum, then came the fight, the maneuvering, the desperate's wrestle with nature and the keen fencing with their fellows in short the battle to which that nothing might be wanting. Our burst, the tremendous artillery of ten thousand cradles, louder than thunder and roaring and crashing without a pause. The base of the two-peaked rock that looks so silvery in the moon is now seen to be covered with manuscript advertisements posted on it. We can only read two or three as we run to our work. Immense production in eggs, only one chilling each beaven store. Go ahead library and registration office for new jumps, Tom Long in the dead horse gully. If this meets the eye of Tom Bowles, he will ear of his bow in the iron bark gully. This is to give notice that whereas my wife Elizabeth Sutton has taken to drink and gone off with my mate Bob, I will not be answerable for your debts nor hold any communication with you in future, James Sutton. A young Jew, Nathan, issued from Levi's tent with a rough table and two or three pair of scales, another pair for an area of a gold assayer and merchant. This was not the first mine by many the old Jew had traded him. His first customers this morning were George and Robinson. Our tent was attacked last night, Mr. Levi. Again, Humph. Tom thinks he has got enemies in the camp. Humph, the young man puts himself too forward not to have enemies. Well said George quickly if he makes bitter enemies he makes warm friends. George then explained that his nerve and Robinson's were giving way under the repeated attacks. We've had a talk and we will sell the best part of our dust to you sir, give him the best price you can afford for Susan's sake. And away went George to look for his court's river, leaving the ex-thief to make the bargain and receive the money. In the transaction that followed Mr. Levi did not appear to great advantage. He made a little advance on the three pounds per ounce on account of the quantity, but he would not give a penny above three guineas. No business was business. He could and would have given George a couple of hundred pounds in day of need but in buying and selling the habits of a life could not be shaken off, wherefore Robinson kept back eight pounds of gold dust and sold him the rest for notes of the Sydney bank. Well, sir, said Tom cheerfully. Now my heart is light. What we have got we can carry round our race now by night or day. Well friend, what do you want poking your nose into the tent? Coming out suddenly he had run against a man who was in a suspicious attitude at the entrance. No offense muttered the man. I wanted to sell a little gold dust. Levi heard what Robinson said and came quickly out. He seated himself behind the scales. Where's your gold? The man fumbled and brought out about an ounce. All the time he waited, the Jews keen eye kept glancing into his face. He lowered his eyes and could not conceal a certain uneasiness. When he was gone, Levi asked Robinson whether he knew that face. No, sir, Robinson, I don't. Levi called Nathan out. Nathan, look at that man, follow him cautiously, and tell me where we have seen him. Above all, know him again. Surely that is the face of an enemy. Then the old man asked himself where he had seen such an eye and brow and shambling walk is that. And he fell into a brown study and groped among many years for the clue. What is Erringo bragged up with the sun for once? cried Robinson to Mary McDockerty, who passed him spade on shoulder. Sure, if she weren't, she'd never keep up with Nuget. Was the instant rejoinder? Hem, how is your husband, Mary? Ock, Captain, it is a true friend you are for inquiring. Then it's tied in a knot he is. Mercy on us, tied in a knot, tied in a knot entirely with that rheumatism. And it's 10 days I'm working for him and the children. And my heart broke against gravel and stone entirely. I wish it was preities we are digging. I'd maybe dig up at dinner anyway. There's no difficulty. The secret is to look in the right place. I take your diversion. East, I rogue. I wish he had my five children. Oh, you spiteful cat. Well, he'd come to sell a little. What is to do out there seems a bit of a crowd. What haven't you heard? It is your friend, Jim. He has got a slice of luck, bought a whole of a stranger, saw the stuffed glitter, so offered him 30 pounds. He was green and snapped at it. And if Jim didn't wash four ounces out the first cradle full, I'm a Dutchman. Well, I'm right glad of that. The young digger now approached respectfully. Police report, Captain. And it here may I sit at your table a minute, Mr. Levi? Mr. Levi, about a cent. No clue to the parties that attacked our tent last night. None at present, Captain, but we are all on the lookout. Some of us will be sure to hear of something. Course of the day. And then I'll come and tell you, we read the report. There is the week summary as well. Of course I will. Mom, Mom, less violence on the whole this week. More petty larceny. That is bad. I'll put it down, Mr. Levi. I'm determined to put it down. What an infernal row the cradles make. What is this? A great flow of strangers into the camp, most thought to be honest. But some great roughs. Also a good many Yankees and Germans come in at the south side. What is this? A thief lynched yesterday, flung head foremost into a hole and stuck in the clay. Not expected to live after it. Go at my boys. Didn't I say law is the best for all parties? Thieves included. Leave it, Andrew. I will examine it with the utmost minuteness. The dog used fine words on these occasions that he might pass for a pundit with his click. And being now alone, he poured over his police sheet as Solomon stern as if the nation depended on his investigations. A short explosion of laughter from Andrew interrupted this grave occupation. The beak looked up with offended dignity and in spite of a mighty effort fell a sniggering. For following Andrew's eyes he saw two gig umbrellas gliding erect and peaceful side by side among the pits. What on earth are they? China men captain. They are too lazy to dig. They go about all day looking at the heaps and poking all over the camp. They have got eyes like hawks. It is wonderful, I'm told, what they can try to pick up first and last. What hats? Why one of them would roof a tent? Huru? What is up now? Huru? An up-came merry dog or tea dancing and jumping is only Irish ever jumped. She had a lump of dim metal in one hand and a glittering mass in the other. She came up to the table with a fantastic spring and spanked down the sparkling mass on it, bounding back one step like India rubber, even as she struck the table. There, old gentleman, what will you be after giving me for that? Sure the luck has come to the right Colleen at last. Idea but in the precious metals and stones replied Isaac quietly. Sure and isn't gold a precious metal? Do you offer me this for gold? This is not even a metal. It is mica, yellow mica. Mikey, glad Mary, ruefully with an inquiring look. At this juncture, in ran George, hot as fire. There, cried he triumphantly to Robinson, was I right or wrong? What becomes of your gold dust? And he laid a nugget as big as his fist on the table. Ah, come, cried the Irish woman. They all have the luck, barn, poor Molly McDockerty. The mica was handled and George said to her compassionately, you see, my poor girl, the first thing you should do is to heft it in your hand. Now see your lump is not heavy light. Pye writes, said Isaac, dryly handing George back his lump. No, Pye writes, is heavier than mica and gold. Then Pye writes, Mr. Levi, don't go to tell me this is not a metal. Remonstrated George, rather sulkily, for I won't have it. Nay, it is a metal, replied Levi calmly, and a very useful metal, but not of the precious metals. It is iron. How can it be iron when it is yellow, and how is one to know iron from gold at any rate? Be patient, my son, said the old Jew calmly, and learn. Take this needle. Here is a scale of gold. Take it up on the needle point. You have done it. Why? Because gold is a soft metal. Now take up the scale from your Pye writes. I can. No, because iron is a hard metal. Here's another childish test, a blood stone, called by some of the touchstone. Rub the Pye writes on it. It colors. Not a hard metal. Now rub this little nugget of pure gold I have just bought. This stains the stone yellow, a soft metal. Here in this little file is muriatic acid. Pour a drop on my nugget. The metal defies it. Now pour on your Pye writes. See how it smokes and perishes. It cannot resist the acid. There are many other tests, but little needed. No metal, no earthly substance resembles gold in the least. Not to a Jew's eye, whispered Robinson. And much eye marveled that any man or even any woman who has been in a gold mine and seen and handled virgin gold should take Micah. Here he knocked the Micah clean off the table, or Pye writes, here he spanked that in another direction for the royal metal. I'll tell you what to do, Mary began Robinson cheerfully. Hello, she is crying. Here is a faint heart. Ah, Captain dear, pat on me. We are killed right out for want of luck. Oh, oh, we never found but one gold, and that was Mikey. We can't fall upon luck of any sort. Good, bad, or indifferent. That is where I'm broken, spiled, and killed entirely. Ho, oh, oh. Don't cry. You've chosen a bad spot. Captain, the Vic, they do be turning it up like carrots on both sides of huzz. And I dig right down as if I'd go through the oral back to dear old Ireland again. He, he, he, oh, oh, and I do be praying to the virgin at every stroke of the spade. I do, and she sends us no gold at all at all. Bar and Mikey, bad says to it, oh, that is it. You are on to wrong tax. You dig perpendicular and pray horizontal. Now you should dig horizontal and pray perpendicular. Ah, Captain, dims hard words for poor Molly McDougharty to quarry through. What is that in your hand? Sure, it is an elegant lump of lead I found, replied poor Mary, the base metal rising, in estimation since her gold turned out dross. You are great with the revolver, Captain, said she coaxingly. You'll be after giving me the last pinch of the rail stuff for it. Robinson took the lump. Good heavens, what a way, cried he. He eyed it keenly. Come, Mr. Levi, cried he. Here is a fine, be generous. She is unlucky. I shall be just, said the old man, gravely. He weighed the lump and made a calculation on paper, then handed her forty sovereigns. She looked at them. Oh, now it is mocking me, ye are, old man, and she will not take the money. On this he put it coolly down on the table. What is it at all, asked she faintly. Platinum replied Isaac coldly. And a magnificent lump of it, cried Robinson warmly. Ought, Captain, ought, Captain, do, and what is platinum at all, if ye plays. It is not like your Micah, said Isaac. See, it is heavier than gold, and far more precious than silver. It has noble qualities. It resists even the simple acid that dissolves gold. Fear not to take the money. I give you but your metal's value, minus the merchant's just profit. Platinum is the queen of the metals. Ought, Captain Mavik, ought, ought, come here till I eat you, and she flung her arm round Robinson's neck and bestowed a little furious kiss on him. Then she pranced away. Then she pranced back. Platinum, you are the boy. You are the queen of the metals. May the Lord bless you. Oh, gentlemen, and the saints bless you, and the Virgin Mary bless you. And she made at Isaac with the tears in her eyes to kiss him, but he waved her off with calm repulsive dignity. Haru, and the child of nature bounded into the air like an antelope, and frisked three times. Then she made another set at them. May you live till the skirts of your coat knock your brains out, the pair of ye Haru, then with sudden demureness. And here's wishing you all sorts of luck, good bet, and indifferent my darlings. Platinum for river, and ghoul to the devil. Cried she suddenly with a sort of musical wash out, the last words being uttered three feet high in air and accompanied with a vague kick utterly impossible in that position except to Irish and intended as supposed to send the obnoxious metal off the surface of the globe forever and the way she danced. Breakfast now, and all the cradles stopped at once. What a delightful calm, said Robinson. Now I can study at my police sheet at my ease. This morning, as he happened to be making no noise, the noise of others worried him. Mr. Levi, how still and peaceful they are when their time comes to grub. The still sal, saps the kale, and we used to say in the north, the English turn the proverb differently, they say the silent hog. Jabber, jabber, jabber, aye, aye, hollow, there's a scrimmage, and there go all the fools rushing to see it. I'll go too. Alas, poor human nature, the row was this, the peaceful children of the moon, whom last we saw gliding side by side, vertical and seemingly imperturbable, had yielded to the genius loci, and were engaged in bitter combat after the manner of their nation. The gig umbrellas were resolved into their constituent parts, the umbrellas proper, or hats lay on the ground, the sticks were men, rolled over one another, scratching and biting. Europe wrenched them asunder with much pain, and held them back by their tails, grinning horribly at each other in their long claws, working unamiably. The diggers were remonstrating, the morality was shot. Is that the way to fight? What are fists given us for, ye varmint? Robinson put himself at the head of the general sentiment, I must do a bit of beak here, cried he, bring those two Tomcats up before me. The proposal was received with acclamation, a high seat was made for the self-constituted beak, and Mr. Stevens was directed to make the orientals think that he was the lawful magistrate of the mine. Mr. Stevens, entering into the fine, persuaded the orientals, who were now gig umbrellas again, that Robinson was the mandarin who settled property, and possessed, among other tribals, the power of life and death. On this they took off their slippers before him, and were all struck, and secretly wished they had not kicked the borough, still more that they had stayed quiet by the banks of the Huang Ho. Robinson settled himself, demanded a pipe, and smoked calm and terrible, while his murmidowns kept their countenances as well as they could. After smoking in silence a while, he demanded of the Chinese, what was the row? First gentleman, jabber, jabber, jabber, second gentleman, jabber, jabber, jabber, both, jabber, jabber, jabber. What is that? Can't they speak any English at all? No. No wonder they can't conduct themselves then, remarked the digger. The judge looked him into the earth for the interruption. You get the story from them, and tell it. After a conference, Mr. Stevens came forward. It is about a nugget of gold, which is claimed by both parties. Robinson stopped bringing the nugget into court, that is the regular course. Great interest began to be excited, and all their necks creamed forward, when Mr. Stevens took from one of the Chinese the cause of so sanguinary a disturbance, and placed it on the judge's table. A roar of laughter followed. It was between a pea and a pin's head in magnitude. Robinson, you know this is shocking. Asia, I'm ashamed of you. Silence in the court. Proceed with the evidence. Mr. Stevens, this one saw the gold shining, and he said to the other, ah. Robinson, writing his notes, said to the other, ah, stop. What was the Chinese for ah? Stevens, ah. Robinson, oh. Andrew, come, the beggars have got hold of some of our words. Robinson, silence in the court. Andrew, I ask pardon, Captain. Stevens, but the other pounced on it first, so they both claim it. Robinson, well, I call it a plain case. Stevens, so I told them. Robinson, exactly. Which do you think ought to have it? Stevens, why, I told them we have a proverb. Losers, seekers, finders, keepers. Robinson, of course, and which was the finder? Stevens, oh, of course, this one that, um, well, to be sure, he only said ah, he did not point, and perhaps, but on the other hand, hmm. Robinson, why don't you see? But no, yes, why, it must be the one that hugged, dratchy both. Why couldn't one of you find it and the other another? Robinson was puzzled at last. He determined that this, his first judgment, should satisfy both parties. Remove the prisoners, said he. Are they the prisoners or the witnesses? Remove them anyway, and keep them apart. Robinson then searched his pockets and produced a little gold swan, shot, scarce, distinguishable from the Chinese. He put this on the table and took up the other. Fetching number one, the Chinaman came in with obeisances and misgivings. But when the judge signed to him to take up the gold, which he mistook for the cause of quarrel, his face lightened with a sacred joy. He receded and with a polite gesture, cleared his face. Then advancing one foot with large and lofty grace, he addressed the judge, whose mouth began to open with astonishment and slow balanced on musical sentences. This done, he retired with three flowing salams to which the judge replied with three little nods. What on earth did the beggar say? What makes you grin, Mr. Stevens? Steven, he said, click. Robinson, come tell me first, laugh after. Stevens, he said, may your highness flourish like a tree by the side of a stream that never overflows, yet is never dry but glides, click, even and crank will as the tide of your prosperity. Robinson, will I consent? Stevens, may dogs defile the graves of your enemies. Robinson, with all my heart, provided I'm not dancing over them at the time. Stevens, when satiated with earthly felicity, may you be received in paradise by seventy dark-eyed huries. Robinson, oh my eye, Stevens, click, each bearing in her hand, the wine of the faithful, and may the applause of the good at your departure resemble the waves of the ocean beating musically upon rocky caverns. Thy servant inexperienced in oratory retires abashed of the greatness of his subject and the insignificance of his expressions, so then he cut his stick. Robinson, a very sensible speech, well, boys, I'm not greedy. I take the half of that offer and give you the rest, bring in the other gentlemen. Number two, advanced with reverences and misgivings. Robinson placed the gold on the table and assigned it to him. A sacred joy illumined him, and he was about to retire with deep obeisances. Whereas his speech cried the judge ruefully. Stevens explained to him that the other had returned thanks. On this number two, smiled the sentingling, and advancing delivered the following sentences. Your slave lay writhing in adversity to spoil by the imprinciple pulled. He was a gourd withered by the noonday sun until your virtues descended like the dew, and refreshed him with your justice and benignity. Wherefore here now the benediction of him whom your clemency has raised from despair. May your shadow increase and cover many lands. May your offspring be a nation dwelling in palaces with golden roofs and walls of ivory. And on the terraces may peacocks be as plentiful as spares are to the undeserving. May you live many centuries shining as you now shine. And at your setting may rivulets of ink dug by the pens of poets flow through letters of paper in praise of the virtues that embellish you here on earth. Seeing to gee a person of small note but devoted to your service wishes these marvelous advantages to the pearl of the west, on whom be honor. Course of diggers, my eye. Robinson rose with much gravity and delivered himself thus. Seeing to gee you are a trump, an orator, and a humbug. All the better for you may felicity attend you. Highster, gustter, hony, swatky, mally, pence. Donor, un blitzen, tempura, montanto, omicara, and pox roe biscombe, the court is dissolved. It was, and I regret to add, that Judge Robinson's concluding sentences raised him greatly, in the opinion of the minors. Captain knows a thing or two, if ever we send one to Parliament. That is the man. Hallow, you fellows, come here, come here. A rush was made toward gem, who was roaring and gesticulating at Mr. Levi's table. When they came up they found gem, black and white, with rage, and Mr. Levi's seated in calm indifference. What is it, asked Robinson? The merchant refuses my gold. I refuse no man's gold, objected Levi Cooley, but this stuff is not gold. Not gold dust, cried a minor, and they all looked with wonder at the rejected merchandise. Mr. Levi took the dust and poured it out from one hand to the other. He separated the particles and named them by some mighty instinct. Brass or maillieu gilt platinum, to give it weight. This is from Birmingham, not from Australia, nor nature. Such as it is, it cost me thirty pounds. Cried gem, keep it, I shall find it. My spade shall never go into the earth again, till I'm quits with this one. That is right, Lord. The men bring him to us, and the captain shall sit in judgment again, and the men's countenances were gloomy, for this was a new roguery, and struck at the very root of gold digging. I'll put it down, Mr. Levi, said Robinson, after the others had gone to their work. Here is a new dodge. Rum and gin planted on us so far from home. I will pull it down with a tenpenny cord, but I'll end it. Crash went ten thousand cradles. The mine had breakfasted. I wish I could give the European reader an idea of the magnitude of this sound whose cause was so humble. I must draw on nature for a comparison. End of Chapter 65, Part 1, Chapter 65, Part 2 of It is Never Too Late to Mend. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. It is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reed. Chapter 65, Part 2. Did you ever stand upon a rocky shore at evening when a great storm has suddenly gone down, leaving the waves about as high as they were while it raged? Then there is no roaring wind to dull the clamour of the tremendous sea as it lashes the long, rebellowing shore. Such was the sound of ten thousand cradles. Yet the sound of each one was insignificant. Hence an observation and a reflection, the latter I dedicate to the lovers of antiquity. That multiplying sound magnifies it in a way science has not yet accounted for. And that though men are all dwarfs, Napoleon included, man is a giant. The works of man are so prodigious they contradict all we see of any individual's powers. And even so, when you had seen and heard one man rock one cradle, it was all the harder to believe that a few thousand of them could rival thunder, avalanches, and the angry sea lashing the long, re-echoing shore at night. These miserable wooden cradles lost their real character when combined in one mighty human effort. It seemed as if giant labour had stretched forth an arm huge as an arm of the sea, and rocked one enormous engine whose sides were these great primeval rocks and its mouth a thundering sea. Crash from meal to meal. The moor was Robinson's surprise when full an hour before dinner time, this mighty noise all of a sudden became feebler and presently human cries of a strange character made their way to his ear through the wooden thunder. When on earth is up now, thought he an earthquake, presently he saw at about half a mile off a vast crowd of miners making toward him in tremendous excitement. They came on, swelled every moment by fresh faces, and cries of vengeance and excitement were now heard, which the wild and savage aspect of the men rendered truly terrible, at last he saw and comprehended all at a glance. There were Jim and two others dragging a man along whose white face and knocking knees betrayed his guilt and his terror. Robinson knew him directly, it was Walker who had been the decoy duck the night his tent was robbed. Here is the captain, hurrah I've got him captain, this is the beggar that peppered the hole for me and now we will pepper him. A fierce burst of exaltation from the crowd, they thirsted for revenge. Jim had caught the man at the other end of the camp and his offense was known by this time to half the mine. Proceed regularly, Jim, said Robinson, don't condemn the man unheard, oh no he shall be tried and you shall be the judge. I consent, said Robinson, somewhat pompously, then arose a cry that made him reflect, lynch, lynch, a seat for judge lynch, and in a moment a judgment seat was built with cradles and he was set on high with six strange faces scowling round him for one of his own click. He determined to back out of the whole thing, no, no, cry he that is impossible, I cannot be a judge in such a serious matter. Why not, Roy, several voices, why not because I'm not a regular beak, because I've not got authority from the crown. There was a howl of derision, we give you authority, we order you to be judged, we are kings, lords and commons, do what we bid you or, added a stranger, we will hang you and the prisoner with one rope, grim ascent of the surrounding faces. Robinson sat down on the judgment seat, not a little discomposed, now then remonstrated one order you waiting for, name the jury. Me, me, me, I, I, I, and there was a rush for the office. Keep cool, replied another, lynch law goes quick, but it goes by rule, judge, name the jury. Robinson, a man whose wit seldom deserted him, had once determined to lead since he could not resist. He said with dignity, I shall choose one juryman from each of the different countries that are working in this mine, that no nation may seem to be slighted for this goal belongs to all the world. Hurrah, well done, judge, three, cheers for Judge Lynch. When I call a country, give me a name which I will inscribe on my report of the proceedings. I want a currency lad first. Here is one William Parker, Passover, France, present Pierre Cheneau, Germany, here Hans Muller, Holland, here Jan van der Stegen, Spain and Italy were called, but no reply. A sleep, I take it, United States, here Nathan Tucker, here Robinson, casting his eyes round, spied McLaughlin, and being minded to dilute the severity of his jury, he cried out Scotland, McLaughlin, you shall represent her. No answer. McLaughlin cried several voices. Where are you? Don't you hear Judge Lynch speak to you? Come McLaughlin, come over. You are a respectable man, Mr. McLaughlin, intimated briefly in his native dialect that he was and intended to remain so, by way of comment on which he made a bolt, from the judgment hall, but was rudely seized, and dragged before the judge. For heaven's sake, don't be a fool, McLaughlin. No man must refuse to be a juryman. In a trial by Lynch, I saw a Quaker stone to death for it in California. I guess I was the R, said a voice behind the judge who shifted uneasily. McLaughlin went into the jury box with a meaning look at Robinson, but without another audible word. Mercy, Mercy, cried Walker. You must not interrupt the proceedings, said Judge Lynch. Hard, your wist, ye gawk, ye are no fan guilty yet, Ramon straighted a juror, the jury being formed, the judge called the plaintiff. The man sold me a claim for 30 pounds. I gave him the blunt because I saw the stuff was glittery. Well, I worked it, and I found it work rather easy, that is a fact. Ha, ha, ha, roared the crowd, but with a horrible laughter, no placability in it. Well, I found lots of dust, and I took it to the merchant, and he said it is none of it gold, that is my tale. Have you any witnesses? I don't know. Yes, the nigger, he saw it. Here, Jackie, come and tell them. Jackie was thrust forward, but was interrupted by McLaughlin as soon as he opened his mouth. The Scottish juror declined to receive evidence, but upon oath. The judge allowed the objection. Swear him in, then cried a hundred voices. Swear, inquired Jackie innocently. Another brutal roar of laughter followed. Jackie was offended. What for you laugh, you stupid fellows? I'm not a common black fellow. I've been to Sydney, and learn all the white man knows. Jackie will swear at it. He left your hand, cried McLaughlin. It is no swearing if you didn't have left your hand. That's so stupid, said Jackie, lifting his hand peevishly. This done, he delivered his evidence thus. Damn, I saw this fellow sell dirt to this fellow. And, damn, I saw this fellow find a good deal gold. And, damn, I heard him say, this is a damn good job. And, damn, he put down his spade and go to sell. And, directly, he come back and say, damn, I am done. A wheel, said McLaughlin. We just refuse, young lads, evidence, the devilish heathen. A threatening murmur. Silence, hear the defendant. Walker, trembling like an aspen, owned to having sold the claim, but denied that the dust was false. This is what I dug out of it, said he, and he produced a small pinch of dust. Hand it to me, said the judge. It seems genuine. Put it to the test. Call the merchants for a witness, quite another. A party ran instantly for Levi. He refused to come. They dragged him with fearful menaces. A test, old man, a test of gold. The old Jew cast his eyes around, took in the whole scene, and with the courage few of the younger ones would have shown, defied that wild mob. I will give you no test. I wash my hands of your mad passions and your mockeries of justice, men of Belial. A moment, silence and wonder, a yell of rage, and a dozen knives in the air. The judge rose hastily, and in a terrible voice that governed the tumult for an instant, said down knives, I hang the first man that uses one in my court. And during the momentary pause that bothered this, he cried out, he has given me a test. Run and fetch me the bottle of acid on his table. A raw judge lent forever was now the cry, and in a minute the bottle was thrust into the judge's hand. Young man, said Isaac solemnly, do not pour, lest heaven bring your soul to, as keen a test one day, who are you that judge your brother? Judge Lynch trembled visibly as the reverend man rebuked him thus, but fearing Isaac would go farther and pay the forfeit of his boldness, he said calmly, friends, remove the old man from the court, but use respect, he is an age of man. Isaac was removed, the judge took the bottle and poured a drop on that small pinch of dust, the man had last given him no effect followed. I pronounced this to be gold. There, put in McLaughlin, you see the lad was no deceiving ye, is it his fault if the gout is no the same? No whimpered Walker eagerly, and the crowd began to whisper, and allow he might be innocent. The man standing behind the judge said with a cold sneer, that is the stuff he did not sell, now pour on the stuff he sold. These words brought back the prejudice against the prisoner and a hundred voices shouted, pour, while their eyes gleamed with a terrible curiosity. Judge Lynch, awestruck by this terrible roar, now felt what it is to be a judge, he trembled and hesitated. Pour, roar the crowd still louder and more fiercely. McLaughlin read the judge's feeling and whimpered out, let it fall, lad, let it fall. If he does, our knives fall on him and you. Pour. Robinson poured. All their fear sighs were fixed on the experiment. He meant to pour a drop or two, but the man behind him jogged his arm and half the acid in the bottle fell upon Walker's dust. A quantity of smoke rose from it and the particles fizzed and bubbled under the terrible test, trash, a rope, no dig a hole and bury him, no bring him off the rock into the water. Silence, roared Robinson, I am the judge and it is for me to pronounce the verdict. Silence, hear Judge Lynch, silence was not obtained for five minutes, during which the court was like a forest of wild bees sowing. I condemn him to be exposed all day with his dust tied round his neck and then drummed out of the camp. This verdict was received first with a yell of derisive laughter, then with a roar of rage. Down with the judge, we are the judges. To the rock with him, I to the rock with him, with this and all overpowering rush was made and Walker was carried off up the rock in the middle of five hundred infuriated men. The poor wretch cried mercy, mercy. Just as dog was the roar in reply, the raging crowd went bellowing up the rock like a wade and gained a natural platform forty feet above the great deep pool that lay dark and calm below. At the sight of it the poor wretch screamed to wake the dead, but the whores and yells of vengeance drowned his voice. But his dust in his pocket cried one crueler than the rest. Their thirst of vengeance was too hot to wait for this diabolical proposal. In a moment four of them had him by the shoulders and heels another moment and the man was flung from the rock uttering a terrible death cry in the very air. Then down his body fell like lead and struck with a tremendous plunge, the deep water that splashed up a moment, then closed and bubbled over it. From that moment the crowd roared no longer, but buzzed and murmured and looked down upon their work half stupidly. Hush! What is that? It is his head. He is up again. Can he swim? Fling stones on him. No, let him alone, or we'll fling you atop of him. He is up, but he can't swim. He is only struggling. He is down again. He was down, but only for a moment. Then he appeared again, choking and gurgling. Mercy, mercy! Justice thieving dog was the appalling answer. Save me, save me, oh save me, save me. Save yourself if you are worth it, was the savage reply. The drowning, despairing man's head was sinking again, his strength exhausted by his idle struggles, when suddenly on his left hand he saw a round piece of rock, scarce a yard from him. He made a desperate effort and got his hand on it, alas it was so slimy he could not hold by it. He fell off it into the water, he struggled up again, tried to dig his feet into the rock, but after a convulsive fling, of a few seconds fell back. The slimy rock mocked his grasp, he came up again and clung and cried piteously for help and mercy. There was none, but a grim silence and looks of horrible curiosity at his idle struggles. His crime had struck at the very root of their hearts and lives, then this poor cowardly wretch made up his mind that he must die. He gave up praying to the pitiless who could look down and laugh at his death agony and he cried upon the absent only. My children, my wife, my poor Jenny, and with this he shut his eyes and, struggling no more, sank quietly down, down, down. First his shoulders disappeared, then his chin, then his eyes, and then his hair. Who can fathom human nature? That sad, despairing cry which was not addressed to them knocked at the bosoms that all his prayers to them for pity had never touched. A hasty, low and uneasy murmur followed it almost as a report follows a flash. His wife and children cried several voices with surprise, but there were two men, this cry not only touched but pierced the plaintiff and the judge. The man has got a wife and children cried gem in dismay as he tried to descend the rock by means of some diminutive steps. They never offended me. He has gone down. Me if I destitute me if I see the man drowned like a rat. Hello splash. Gem's foot has slipped and as he felt he must go he jumped right out and fell 20 feet into the water. At this the crowd roared with laughter and now was the first shade of good nature mixed with the guffaw. Gem fell so near Walker that on coming up he clutched the drowning man's head and dragged him up once more from death. At the sight of Walker's face above water again what did the crowd think you? They burst into a loud hurrah and cheered Gem till the echoes rang again. Hurrah bravo hurrah peeled the fickle crowd. Now Walker no sooner felt himself clutched than he clutched in return with the deadly grasp of a drowning man. Gem struggled to get free in vain. Walker could not hear or see. He was past all that but he could cling and he got Gem round the arms and pinned them after a few convulsive efforts. Gem gave a loud groan. He then said quietly to the spectators he will drown me in another half minute but at this critical moment out came from the other extremity of the pool Judge Lynch swimming with a long rope in his hand. When into this rope he had made into a bite air. He took the water. He swam behind Walker and Gem, whipped the noose over their heads and tightened it under their shoulders. Hall cried he to Ead who held the other end of the rope. Ead hauled and down went the two heads. A groan of terror and pity from the mob their feelings were reversed. Hall quick Ead shouted Robinson or you will drown them man alive. Ead hauled hand over hand and a train of bubbles was seen making all across the pool toward him and the next moment two dripping heads came up two hand close together like cherries on a stalk and now a dozen hands were at the rope and the plaintiff and defendant were lifted bodily up on to the flat rock which came nearly to the water's edge on this side the pool ah ah ah gasped Gem Walker said nothing he lay white and motionless water trickling from his mouth nose and ears Robinson swam quietly ashore the rocks thundered with cheers over his head the next moment the many-headed beast remembered that all this was a waste of time and bolted underground like a rabbit and dug impact for the bare life with but one thought left and that was gold how are you gem oh captain oh gasp for gem i am choked i am dead i am poisoned why i'm full of water bring this other beggar to my tent and we will take our nanny goat together so gem was taken off hanging his head and deadly sick supported by two friends and walker was carried to the same tent and stripped and rubbed and rolled up in a blanket and lots of brandy poured down him and gem to counteract the poison they had swallowed Robinson went to mr. Levi to see if he would lend him a suit while he got his own dried the old Jew received my lord judge with a low ironical bow and sent Nathan to borrow the suit from another israelite he then lectured my lord lynch learned from this young man how easy it is to set a stone rolling downhill how hard to stop it halfway down law must always be above the mob or it cannot be law if it falls into their hands it goes down to their own level and becomes revenge passion cruelty anything but law the madmen they have lost two thousand ounces of gold to themselves into the world while they have been wasting their time and risking their souls over a pound of brass and aspiring to play the judge and the executioner and playing nothing but the brute in the fool as in the days of old mr. Levi concluded by intimating that there was very little common sense left upon earth and that little it would be lost time to search for among the Gentiles finally his discourse galled judge lynch who there upon resolved to turn the laugh against him mr. Levi said he I see you know a thing or two will you be so good as to answer me a question if it come within my knowledge replied the senior with grave politeness which weighs the heaviest sir a pound of gold or a pound of feathers and he winked at Nathan but looked in Isaac's face as demure as a quakeress a pound of feathers replied Isaac Robinson looked half puzzled half satirical a childish questions that Isaac Stoney what boy knows not that feathers are weighed by avouard dupois and go by Troy weight and consequently that a pound of feathers weighs 16 ounces and a pound of gold but 12 well that is a new answer cried Robinson goodbye sir you are too hard for me and he made off to his own tent it was a day of defeats the moment he was out of hearing Isaac laugh the only time he had done it during six years and what a laugh how sublimely devoid of merriment a sudden loud cackle of three distinct cacchini not declining into a chuckle as we do but ending sharp in abrupt and severe gravity I discomforted the young man Nathan I mightily discomforted him ha ha ho Nathan did you as I bad you yes master I found the man and I sent Samuel who went hastily to him and cried out Mr. Meadows is in the camp and wishes to speak to you master he started up in wonder and his whole face changed without doubt he is the man you suspected yes said Isaac reflecting deeply the man is Peter Crawley and what does he hear some deep villainy lies at the bottom of this but I will fathom it I and thwart it I swear by the god of Abraham let me think a while in my tent sit you at the receipt of gold the old man sat upon a divan in his tent and pondered on all that had happened in the mine above all on the repeated attacks that had been made on that one tent he remembered to that George had said sorrow fully to him more than once no letters from me Mr. Levi no letter again this month the shrewd old man tied these two threads together directly all these things are one said Isaac Levi thus pondering and patiently following out his threads the old man paced a mile down the camp to the post office where he'd heard the postman's horn and he expected important letters from England from his friend an agent at Farnborough old Cohen there were letters from England but none in old Cohen's hand he put them in his bosom with a disappointed look and paced slowly and deeply pondering back toward his tent he was about halfway when much to his surprise a stone fell close to him he took however no notice did not even accelerate his pace or look round but the next moment a lump of clay struck him on the arm he turned round quivering with rage at the insult and then he saw a whole band of diggers behind him who the moment he turned his face began to hoot and pelt him who got poor Walker drowned ah ah ah who refused to give evidence before Judge Lynch cried another ah ah ah there were clearly two parties in the mob down with the Jew the blood sucker we do all the work and he gets all the profit ah ah ah and a lump of clay struck that reverend head and almost stunned the poor old man he sunk upon his knees and in a moment his coat was torn to shreds but with unexpected activity he wriggled himself free and drew a dagger long bright and sharp as a needle his assailants recoiled a moment the next a voice was heard from behind get on both sides of him at once Isaac looked and saw Peter Crawley then the old man trembled for his life and cried help help and they hemmed him in and knocked his dagger out of his hand and hustled and pummeled him and would have torn him in pieces but he slipped down and two of them got in front and dragged him along the ground to Walker's pool cried Brutus putting himself at the head of those who followed all of a sudden Isaac though half insensible heard a roar of rage that seemed to come from a lion a whiz a blow like a thunder clap saw one of his assassins driven into the air and falling like a dead clawed three yards off found himself dropped and a man striding over him it was George Fielding who stood a single moment snorting and blowing out his cheeks with rage then went slap at the mob as the lion goes at sheep sees one of the small ruffians by the knees and by a tremendous effective strength and rage actually used him as a flail and struck Brutus with the man's head and knocked that ruffian down stunned and his nose leveled with his cheeks the mob recoiled a moment from this one hero George knew it could be but for a moment so he had no sooner fell Brutus and hurled the others carcass in their faces then he pounced on Isaac whipped him on his back and ran off with him he had got 30 yards with him air the staggered mob could realize it all the mob recovered their surprise and with a yell like a pack of hounds bursting covert dashed after the pair the young Hercules made a wonderful effort but no mortal man could run very fast so waited in spite of his start they caught him in about a hundred yards he heard them close upon him put the Jew down and whispered hastily run to your tent and instantly wheeled round and flung himself at 30 men he struck two blows and disabled a couple the rest came upon him like one battering ram and bore him to the ground but even as he went down he caught the nearest assailant by the throat and they rolled over one another the rest kicking savagely at George's head and loins the poor fellow defended his head with one arm and his assailants body for a little while but he received some terrible kicks on the back and legs give it him on the head kick his life out settle his hash they were so fierce the intent on finishing George that they did not observe a danger that menace themselves as a round shot cuts a lane through a column of infantry so clean came two files of special constables with their short staves severing the mob in two quick crack quick quick quick quick quick crack crack in three seconds ten heads were broken with a sound just like glass bottles under the short deadly truncheon and there lay half a dozen ruffians writhing on the ground and beating the devil's tattoo with their heels charge back ride the head policeman as soon as he had cut clean through but at the very word the cowardly crew fled on all sides yelling the police followed in different directions a little way and through this era three of the felled got up and ran staggering off when the head policeman saw that he cried out back and secure prisoners they caught three who were too stupefied to run and rescued Brutus from George who had got him by the throat and was hammering the ground with his head let go George cried policeman Robinson and some anxiety you were killing the man I don't want to kill him neither said George and he slowly withdrew his grasp and left off hammering with the rascals head but looked at him as if he would have preferred to have gone on a little longer they captured the three others now secure them cried eat out with your wipes there is no need of wipes said Robinson he then with a slight blush and rather avoiding George's eye put his hand in his pockets and produced four beautiful sets of handcuffs brand new polished to the fine with a magical turn of the hand he handcuffed the three men still avoiding George's eye unnecessary George's sense of humor was very faint and so was his sweet hearts a sad defect perhaps I may as well explain here how Robinson came so opportunity to the rescue the fact is that a week ago he had ordered a lot of constable staves and four sets of handcuffs the staves were nicely painted lettered Captain Robinson's police ABC etc they had just come home and Robinson was showing them to eat in his gang when a hullabaloo was hurt and Levi was seen full half a mile off being hunted such an opportunity of trying the new staves was not to be neglected eating his men jumped out of their claim and ran with Robinson to the rescue but they would have been too late if George who had just come into the camp at that very part had not made his noble and desperate assault and retreat which baffled the assailants for two precious minutes Robinson what shall we do with them now we have got them George give them a kick a piece on their behinds and let them go the rubbish Robinson not if I know it eat I say Blackerton Robinson know that would be letting ourselves down to their level no we will expose them as we did my old pal here before eat why that is what I mean ticket them put a black card on them with their offense wrote out large no sooner said than done all four were tied to post in the sun and black carded or as some spell it placarded thus coward attacked and abused an old man in B not hanged this time because they got a licking then and there let us go and see after Mr. Levi George well Tom I'd rather not why not he ought to be very much obliged to you that is it Tom the old man is of rather a grateful turn of mind and it is tender one if he doesn't go and begin praising me to my face and then that makes me I don't know which way to look wait till he has cooled upon it a bit you are rum one well George I've got one proposal you won't say no to first I must tell you there is really a river of quartz in the country didn't I tell you yes and I didn't believe it but I've spoken to Jackie about it and he has seen it it is on the other side of the bush I'm ready to start for it tomorrow for there is little good to be done here now the weather is broken George ascended with joy but when Robinson suggested that Jackie would be very useful to pilot them through the bush his countenance fell don't think of it city I know he is here Tom and I shan't go after him but don't let him come near me the nasty little creeping murdering bar mit poor Abner will never get over his tomahawk not if he lives 50 years in short it was agreed they should go alone at peep of day I've talked it over with Gem already and he will take charge of our tent till we come back so be it you must take some provisions with us George I'll go and get some cold meat and bread Tom do I'm going to the tent Robinson it is to be observed had not been in his tent since George and he left it and took their gold out of it just before sunrise as he now carried their joint wealth about his person his anxiety was transferred now at the door of the tent he was intercepted by Gem very red in the face partly with brandy partly with rage Walker whose life he had saved whom he had taken to his own tent and who Robinson had seen lying asleep in the best blanket this Walker had absconded with his boots and half a pound of tobacco well but you knew he was a rogue why did you leave him alone in your tent only left him for a minute to go a few steps with you if you remember and you said yourself he was asleep well the moment our backs were turned he must have got up and done the trick I don't like it said Robinson no more don't I said Jim if he was not asleep he must have heard me say I was going to cross the bush with my mate tomorrow a daybreak well and what if he did he is like enough to have gone and told the whole gang and what if he has Robinson was about to explain to Jim that he now carried all the joint gold in his pocket but he for bore it is too great a mistake for me to trust anybody unless I'm forced thought he so he only said well it is best to be prudent I shall change the hour for starting you are cunning one captain but I really think you are over careful sometimes Jim said the other gravely there is a mystery in this mine there is a black gang in it and that Walker is one of them I think they have sworn to have my gold go my life and they shan't have either if I can help it I shall start two hours before the sun he was quite right Walker had been shaming sleep and for four hours ago he had told his confederates as a matter of course all that he had heard in the enemy's camp Walker a timid villain was unprepared for the burst of savage exaltation from Brutus and black will that followed this intelligence these two by an instinct quick as lightning saw the means of gratifying at one blow their cupidity and hate Crawley had already told them he'd seen Robinson come out of Levi's tent after a long stay and their other spies had told them his own tent had been left unguarded for hours they put these things together and conjectured at once that the men had now their swag about them in one form or another when do they go tomorrow break of day he said the bush is very thick and dark too it is just a place for a job will you two of you be enough plenty the way we shall work the men are strong and armed their strength will be no use to them and they shan't get time to use their arms for heaven's sake shed no blood unnecessarily said Crawley beginning to tremble at the pool of crime to whose brink he had led these men do you think they will give up their swag well they are alive as Brutus scornfully then I wash my hands of it all cried the little self-deceiving cative and he affected to have nothing to do with it walk who was then thanked for his information and he thought this was a good opportunity for complaining of his wrongs and demanding redress this fellow was a thorough egotist saw everything from his own point of view only Gemma dragged him before Judge Robinson Robinson had played the beak and found him guilty Thevi had furnished the test on which he had been convicted all these had therefore cruelly injured and nearly killed him himself was not the cause he had not set all these stones rolling by forging upon nature and robbing Gemma 30 pounds no he could not see that nor did he thank Gemma one bit for jumping in and saving his life at risk of his own why did he ever get him thrown in the brute if he was not quite drowned he was nearly and gem the cause his confederates soothed him with promises of vengeance on all their three his enemies and soon after catching sight of one of them Levi they kept their word they roused up some of the other diggers against Isaac on the plea that he had refused to give evidence against Walker and so they launched a mob and trusted to mob nature for the rest the recoil of this superfluous villainy was as often happens a blow to the head scheme Brutus who was wanted a peep of day for the dark scheme already hinted at got terribly battered by George Fielding and placarded and what was worse chained to a post by Robinson and he became necessary to sound his body in spirit one of the gang was sent by quality to inquire whether he felt strong enough to go with black will on that difficult and dangerous work tomorrow the question put in a passing whisper was answered in a whisper I'm as strong as a line for revenge tell them I would not miss tomorrow's work for all the gold in Australia the lowering face spoke loud enough if the mouth whispered the message was brought back to black will and crawler what energy said crawler admiringly I said black will that is your sort give me a pal with his skin smarty and his bones aching for the sort of job that would should see tomorrow have they marked him being quiet with a strange curiosity I'm afraid to have his nose is smashed frightful I'm glad of it now we are brothers and we'll have blood for blood your expressions are dreadfully terse said crawler trying to smile but looking scared instead but I don't understand your remark you were not in the late unsuccessful attack on Mr. Levi and you escaped most providentially in the night business the men have not marked you my good friend haven't they the other man with a tremendous oath haven't they look here a glance was enough quality turned one and shuttered from head to foot end of chapter 65 part two chapter 66 of it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 66 we left Robinson and Jim talking at the entrance to the tent come in said Robinson you will take care of this tent while we are gone Jim promised faithfully he then asked Robinson to explain to him the dodge of the gut lines Robinson showed him in how the bells were rung at his head by the thief's foot Jim complimented him highly Robinson smiled but the next moment sighed they will be too clever for us some of these dark nights see how nearly they have nicked us again and again don't be down on your luck captain Jim what frightens me is the villains getting off so there they are to try again and next time the luck will be theirs it can't always be ours why should it Jim there was a man in my tent last night there is no denying that captain well Jim I can't get it off my heart that I was to kill that man or he me everything was on my side I had my gut lines and I had a revolver and a cutlass and I took up the cutlass like a fool if I had taken up the revolver the man would be dead I took up the wrong and that man will be my death the cards never forgive I had the odd trick and didn't take it I shall lose the game no you shan't cried Jim hastily what if the man got clear for the moment we will hunt him out for you you give me his description I couldn't said Robinson despondently it was so dark here is his pistol but that is no use if I had but a clue I ever so slight I'd follow it up but no there is none hello what is the matter what is it what on earth is the man looking at like that what was you asking for stammered Jim wasn't it a clue yes Robinson got up and came to Jim who was standing with dilated eyes looking at the ground in the very corner of the tent he followed the direction of Jim's eyes and was instantly transfixed with curiosity and rising horror take it up Jim he gasped no you take it up it was you who no yes there is George's voice I wouldn't let him see such a thing for the world oh god here is another another yes in the long grass and there is George's voice come out Jim not a word to George for the world I want to talk to you if it hasn't turned me sick I should make a poor hangman but it was in self-defense thank heaven for that were you going in such a hurry Tom said George oh only a little way with Jim don't be long it is getting late no George Jim this is an ugly job an ugly job no blank him I wish it was his head give them me captain what will you take charge of them that I will captain and what is more I'll find your enemy out by them and when you come back he shall be in custody waiting your orders give them me yes take them oh but I am glad to be rid of them what a ghastly look they have I don't care for their looks I'm right glad to see them they are a clue and no mistake keep dark tonight don't tell this to Eddie he is a good fellow but chatters too much let me work it out I'll find the late owner double quick said Jim with a somewhat brutal laugh your orders about the prisoner's captain cried Eddie coming up Robinson reflected turn them all loose but one and what shall I do with him hmm put a post up in your own tent yes tie him to it in his handcuffs give him food enough and when shall we loose him at noon tomorrow it shall be done but you must come and show me which of the four it is Robinson went with Eddie and his men turned this one loose said he it was done on the instant and this and this and laying his finger on Brutus keep this one prisoner in your tent handcuffed and chained till noon tomorrow at the touch Brutus trembled with hate at the order his countenance fell like canes full two hours before sunrise the patrol called Robinson by his own order and the friends made for the bush with the days provision and their blankets their pics and their revolvers when they arrived at the edge of the bush Robinson halted and looked round to see if they were followed the night was pretty clear no one was in sight the men struck rapidly into the bush which at this part had been cut and cleared in places lying as it did so near a mine what are we to run Tom yes I want to get to the river of quartz as soon as possible was the dry answer with all my heart after running about half a mile George pulled up and they walked what do you keep looking behind for Tom oh nothing you fidget me Tom can't help it I shall be like that till daylight they have shaken my nerves among them don't give way to such nonsense what are you afraid of I'm not afraid of anything come George another run oh as you like this beats all the run brought them to the end of the broad road and they found two smaller paths after some hesitation Robinson took the left hand one and it landed them in such a terribly thick scrub they could hardly move they forced their way through it getting some frightful scratches but after struggling with it for a good half hour began to fear it was impenetrable and interminable when the sun rising showed them a clear space some yards ahead they burst through the remainder of the scrub and came out upon an old clearing full a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad they gave a hurrah at the side of it but when they came to walk on it the ground was clay and so sticky with a late shower that they were like flies moving upon varnish and at last were feigned to take off their shoes and stockings and run over it on the tips of their toes at the end of this opening they came to a place like the seven dials no end of little paths into the wood and none very promising after a natural hesitation they took the one that seemed to be the most on their line of march and followed it briskly till it brought them plump upon a brook and there it ended Robinson groaned con found the bush cried he you were wrong not to let me bring Jackie what is to be done go back i hate going back i would rather go 30 miles ahead than one back i've got an idea off shoes and paddle up the stream perhaps we shall find a path that comes to it from the other side they paddled up the stream a long way and at last sure enough they found a path that came down to the stream from the opposite side they now took a hasty breakfast washing it down with water from the brook and dived into the wood the sun was high in heaven yet they still had not got out of the bush i can't make it out george there is nothing to steer by in these paths twist and turn so i don't think we shall do any good till night when i see the southern cross in the sky i shall be able to steer northeast that is our line don't give in said george i think it looks clearer ahead i believe we are at the end of it no such luck i'm afraid was the despondent reply for all that in a few yards more they came upon an open place they could not help cheering at last cried day but this triumph gave way to doubts i'm afraid we're not clear yet said robinson see there is wood again on the other side why it is that sticky clay again why george it is the clearing we crossed before breakfast you're talking nonsense tom cried george angrily no i am not said the other sadly come across we shall soon know by our footsteps in the clay sure enough halfway across they found a track of footsteps george was staggered it is the place i really think said he but tom when you talk of the footsteps look here you and i never made all these tracks this is the track of a party robinson examined the ground tracks of three men two barefoot one in nailed boots well is that us look at the clearing george you have got eyes it is the same so tis but i can't make out the three tracks robinson groan i can this third track has come since we went by no doubt of that tom well well don't you see no what you and i are being hunted george looked blank a moment can't we be followed without being hunted no others might but not me we are being hunted said robinson sternly george i am sick of this let us end it let us show these fellows they are hunting lions and not sheep is your revolver loaded yes then come on and he set off to run following the old tracks george ran by his side his eyes flashing with excitement they came to the brook robinson showed george that their pursuer had taken some steps down the stream no matter said he don't lose time george go right up the bank to our path he will have puzzled it out you may take your oath sure enough they found another set of footsteps added to their own robinson paused before entering the wood he put fresh caps on his revolver now george said he in a low voice we couldn't sleep in this wood without having our throats cut but before night i'll be out of danger in my grave for life is not worth having in the midst of enemies hush hush you must not speak to me but in a whisper no whisper george nor rustle against the bows no i won't whisper george but make me sensible tom tell me what all this caution is to lead to what are you doing i am hunting the hunter hissed robinson with concentrated fury and he glided rapidly down the trodden path his revolver cocked his ears pricked his eye on fire and his teeth clenched george followed silent and cautious his revolver ready cocked in his hand as they glided thus following their own footsteps and hunting their hunter with gloomy brows and nerves quivering and hearts darkening with anger and bitterness suddenly a gloom fell upon the wood it darkened and darkened meantime the breeze chill as ice disturbed its tepid and close air forerunner of a great wind which was soon heard first moaning in the distance then howling and rushing up and sweeping over the tall trees and rocking them like so many bullrushes a great storm was coming end of chapter 66 recording by philip guld chapter 67 of it is never too late to mend this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org it is never too late to mend by charles reid chapter 67 this very afternoon mr. levi came to inquire for george fielding unable to find him he asked of several diggers where the young man was he could get no information till jim saw him and came and told him now when he heard they were gone and not expected back for some days isaac gave quite a start and showed a degree of regret in vexation that jim was puzzled to account for on reflection he begged jim to come to his tent there he sat down and wrote a letter young man said he I do entreat you to give this to george fielding the moment he returns to the camp why did he go without coming to see me my old heart is full of misgivings you needn't have any sir said jim surprised at the depth of feeling in the old jews face and voice he shall have the letter you may depend levi thanked him he then said to nathan strike the tents collect our party and let us be gone what going to leave us sir yes young man this very hour well now I am sorry for that and so will the captain be in his pal that you think so much of we shall not be long parted said the old man in his sweet musical eastern accent not very long if you were faithful to your trust and give the good young man my letter may good angels hover round him may the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob guard him amen said rough jim for the reverend face glowed with piety and the voice was the voice of prayer suddenly an unpleasant reflection occurred to jim well but if you go who is to buy our gold dust the christian merchants said Isaac with an indifferent air but they are such jews cried jim inadvertently I mean I mean and rough as he was he looked as if he could have bitten his tongue off I know what you mean said Isaac sadly he added such as they are they are all you have now the old jew was hunted and hooded and insulted in this place yesterday here then he trades no more those who set no value on him can of course supply his place the blackards cried jim the ruffians I wish I had seen them come mr. Levi that was not the mind that was only the riffraff you might forgive us that I never forgive was the calm reply end of chapter 67 recording by Philip Gould chapter 68 of it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org it is never too late to mend by Charles Reed chapter 68 a tremendous snowstorm fell upon the mine and drove Jim into his tent where he was soon after joined by Jackie a circumstance in itself sufficient to prove the violence of the storm for Jackie loathed indoors it choked him a good deal the more it was Jim surprised when he heard a lamentable howl coming nearer and nearer and a woman burst into his tent a mere pillar of snow for she was covered with a thousand flakes each as big as a lady's hand oh Choney oh Choney oh Choney cried Mary McDowarty and on being asked what was the matter she sat down and rocked herself and moaned and cried oh Choney all Captain Ivic what will I do for you and who will I find to save you and oh it is the warm heart and the kind heart he had to poor Molly McDougarty that would give her life to saviours this day the captain cried Jim in great alarm what is wrong with the captain he is lying cold and stiff in the dark bloody wood awk the murdering villains awk what will I do at all awk Captain avic warm was your heart to the poor Irish boys but it is cold now oh Choney oh Choney woman cried Jim in great agitation leave off blubbering and tell me what is the matter thus blandly interrogated Mary told him a story often interrupted with tears and sighs of what had been heard and seen yesterday by one of the Irish boys a story that turned him cold for it left on him the same impression it had left on the warm hearted Irish woman that at this moment his good friend was lying dead in the bush hard by he rose and loaded Robinson's double-barreled gun he loaded it with bullets and as he rammed them fiercely down he said angrily leave off crying and ringing your hands what on earth is the use of that here goes to save him or to revenge him and awk James take the wild engine with the they know them bloody murdering woods better than our boys glory be to God for teaching them that same of course I shall take him you hear Jackie will you show me how to find the poor dear captain and is made if they are in life if they are alive Jackie will find them a good deal soon if they are dead still Jackie will find them the Irish woman sorrow burst out afresh at these words the savage then admitted the probability of that she dreaded and their enemies the cowardly villains what will you do to them as Jim black with rage Jackie's answer made Mary scream with a fright and startled even Jim's iron nerves for a moment at the very first word of the Irishman's story the savage had seated himself on the ground with his back turned to the others and unnoticed by them had rapidly painted his face with the war paint of his tribe words cannot describe the ghastly terrors the fiendish ferocity these traditional lines and colors gave his countenance this creature that looked so like a fiend came erect into the middle of the tent with a single bound as if that moment vomited forth by hell and yet with a grander carriage and princely or presence than he had worn in time of peace and even as he bounded he crossed his tomahawk and narrow wooden shield to signify that his answer was no vulgar aservation but a vow of sacred war Kalinga Lunga will kill them and drink their blood Kalinga Lunga glided from the tent Jim followed him the snow fell in flakes as large as a lady's hand in the air was dark Jim could not see where the hunter was taking him but he strode after him and trusted to his sagacity five hours hard walking and then the snow left off the air became clear into Jim's surprise the bush instead of being on his right hand was now on his left and there on its skirts about a mile off was the native camp they had hardly come inside of it when it was seen to break from quietude into extraordinary hustle what is up asked Jim the hunter smiled and pointed to his own face Kalinga Lunga painted war what eyes the beggars must have said Jim the next minute a score of black figures came tearing up in such excitement that their long rows of white teeth and the whites of their eyes flashed like Buddha lights and their black heads Kalinga Lunga soon calmed them down by letting them know that he was painted for a private not a national feud he gave them no further information I suspect he was too keen a sportsman to put others on the scent of his game he went all through the camp and ascertained from the stragglers that no men answering the description of George and Robinson had passed out of the wood there in the woods said he he then ordered a great fire Bade Jim dry his clothes and eat he collected two of his wives and committed Jim to their care and glided like a panther into the wood what with the great heat succeeding to the great cold and the great supper the gins gave him Jim fell fast asleep it was near daylight when a hand was laid on his shoulder and there was Kalinga Lunga not a track on the snow no then let us hope they are not in the wood the hunter hung his head me think they are in the wood said he gravely Jim groaned then they are lying under the soil of it or in some dark pit Kalinga Lunga reflected he replied to this effect that there were no more traces of an assassin than a victims consequently that it was impossible to know anything and that it was a good deal too stupid to speak a good deal knowing nothing all this time Jim's fear and rage and impatience contrasted greatly with the philosophic flim of the picked who looked so fierce and took it all so cool ending with an announcement that now Kalinga Lunga would sleep a good deal the chief was soon asleep but not till he had ordered his gins to wake him the moment the snow should be melted this occurred at noon and after snatching a hasty meal he put a tomahawk into Jim's hands and darted into the bush all the savages coldness disappeared now he was at work he took Jim right across the wood from southeast to northwest nothing stopped him when the scrub was thick above but hollow below he threw himself on his belly and wriggled along like a snake when it was all thick he hacked into it with fury and forced a path when it was impenetrable he went round it and by some wonderful instinct got into the same line again thus they cut clean across the wood but found no tracks then the savage being out in the open trotted easily down the wood side to the southwest point here he entered and took a line straight as an arrow to the northeast it was about five in the afternoon Kalinga Lunga was bleeding all over with scratches and Jim was torn to pieces and done up he was just about to tell the other he must give in when Kalinga Lunga suddenly stopped and pointed to the ground track what of a white man shoe how many are there one Jim side I doubt it is a bad job Jackie said he follow not too close was the low reply and the panther became a serpent so smooth and undulating were the motions with which he glided upon the track he had now discovered Jim well aware that he could not move noiselessly like the savage obeyed him and crept after at some distance the savage had followed the man's footsteps about half a mile and the white man the savage when suddenly both were diverted from their purpose Kalinga Lunga stood still and beckoned Jim Jim ran to him and found him standing sniffing the air with his great broad nostrils like a stag what is it white fellow burn Wambaloa wood how do you know how do you know Wambaloa wood smell a good way off when him burn and how do you know it is a white man black fellow never burn Wambaloa wood not good to burn that keep it for mill meridian the chief now cut off a few of his long hairs and held them up to ascertain the exact direction of the wind this done he barked a tree to mark the spot to which he had followed the trail and striking out into quite a different direction he hunted by scent Jim expected to come on the burning Wambaloa very soon but he underrated either the savage's keen scent or the acrid odor of the sacred wood perhaps both they had gone half a mile at least before his companion thought it necessary to show any caution at last he stopped short and then Jim smelled a smell as if cinnamon and ginger nutmegs and cloves were all blazing in one bonfire with some difficulty he was prevailed on to stand still and let the subtle native creep on nor would he consent to be inactive until the other solemnly vowed to come back for him and give him his full share of the fighting then Kalinga Lunga went gliding like a shadow and flitted from tree to tree woe be to the enemy the subtle noiseless pitiless remorseless savage surprises he has not put on his war-paint in sport or for baron show end of chapter sixty eight recording by Philip Gould chapter sixty nine give it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org it is never too late to mend by Charles Reed chapter sixty nine a man was hunting Robinson and George Fielding and they were hunting him both parties in flame with rage and bitterness both master of the other's fate they thought a change of wind brought a fall of snow and the fall of snow baffled both parties in five minutes down came the Australian flakes large as a woman's hand I am not romancing in a face the tracks of the pursuing and pursued and pursuers so tremendous was the fall that the two friends thought of nothing but shelter they drew their blankets over their heads and ran hither and thither looking for a friendly tree at last they found an old tree with a prodigious stem that parted about ten feet up into two forks with some effort they got up into this cleft and then they were on a natural platform Robinson always carried nails in his pocket and he contrived to nail the two blankets to the forks so as to make a screen and they took out their provisions and fortified themselves with a hearty supper as they were eating it they were suddenly startled by an explosion so tremendous that their tree seemed to have been struck by lightning out went Robinson with his mouth full onto a snowdrift four feet high he looked up and saw the cause of the fraca a large bow of a neighboring tree had parted from the trunk with the enormous weight of the snow Robinson climbed back to George and told him supper recommenced but all over the wood at intervals they now heard huge forks and bows parting from their parent stems with a report like a thirty two pounder ringing and echoing through the woods others so distant they were like crackers these sounds were very appalling in the ghostly wood the men instinctively drew closer to each other but they were no chickens use soon hardened them even to this they settled it that the forks they were sitting on would not give way because there were no leaves on them to hold a great burden of snow and soon they yielded to nature and fell fast to sleep in spite of all the dangers that him them at his regular hour just before sunrise Robinson awoke and peeped from below the blanket he shook George get up directly George we are wasting time when time is gold what is it what is it there is a pilot in the sky that will take us out of this cursed trap if the day does not come in spoil all George's eye followed Robinson's finger and in the center of the dark vault of heaven this glittered southern cross constellation end of chapter sixty nine recording by Philip Gould