 Chapter 70 of It is Never Too Late to Men. 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 Men by Charles Reed. Chapter 70. I know it, Tom. When I was sailing to this country, we came to a part where the North Star went down and down to the water's edge. And this was all we got in exchange for it. George said, Tom, rather sternly, how do you know they don't hear us? And here we are surrounded by enemies. And would you run down our only friend? That silver star will save our lives if they are to be saved at all. Come on. And George, if you were to take your revolver and blow out my brains, it is no more than I deserve for sleeping away the precious hours of night when I ought to have been steering out of this cursed timber net by that blessed star. With these words, Robinson dived into the wood, steering due east by the Southern Cross. It was like going through a frozen river. The scrub was loaded with snow, which it discharged in masses on the travelers at every step. Keep your revolver dry in your hat and your Lucifer's too, cried Robinson. We shall have to use them both, 10 to 1, as to our skins. That is hopeless. Then the men found how hard it is to take a line and keep it in the Australian bush when the Southern Cross was lost in a cloud, though, but for a minute they were sure to go all wrong as they found upon its reappearance. And sometimes the scrub was impenetrable and they were forced to go around it and walk 400 yards advancing eastward but 20 or 30. Thus they battled on till the sun rose. Now we shall be all in the dark again, said poor Robinson. Here comes a fog. Stop, Tom, said George, oughtn't we to make this good before we go on? What do you mean? We have come right by the star so far, have we not? Yes, then let us bark. Fifty of these trees for a mark. I've seen that varmit, Jackie, do that. A capital idea, George, out with our knives. Here goes. No breakfast today, Tom. No, George, nor dinner, either, till we are out of the wood. These two poor fellows walked and ran and crept and struggled all day, sometimes hoping, sometimes desponding. They'd lasted five o'clock in the afternoon, their bellies gnawed with hunger, their clothes torn to rags, their skin bleeding. They came out upon some trees with the bark stripped. They gave one another a look that words can hardly paint. They were the trees they had barked 12 hours ago. The men stood silent, neither cared to tell the other all he felt. For now they're crept over these two stout bosoms, a terrible chill, the sense of a danger new to them in experience, but not new in report. They had heard of settlers and others who had been lost in the fatal labyrinth of the Australian bush, and now they saw how easily it might be true. We may as well sit down here and rest. We shall do no good till night. What are you in pain, George? Yes, Tom, a little. Where? Something gnaws my stomach like an adder. Oh, that is the soldier's gripes, said Tom, with a gasp the attempt at a jest. For, George, said he kindly, I dare say you never knew what it was to go 24 hours without food before. Never in my lifetime, while I have and I'll tell you the only thing to do when you can't feel the bread basket, shut it, go to sleep till the southern cross comes out again. What, sleep in our dripping clothes? No, we will make a roaring fire with these strips of bark, they are dry as tender by now. A pyre four feet high was raised, the strips being laid from north to south and east to west alternately, and they dried their blankets and warmed their smoking bodies. George, I have got two cigars, they must last us two days. Oh, I'm no great smoker, keep them for your own comfort. Robinson wore a sad smile, we can't afford to smoke them. This is to chew. It is not food, George, but it keeps the stomach from eating itself. We must do the best for our lives we can for Susan's sake. Give it me, Tom, I'll chew it and thank you kindly. You are a wise companion in adversity, Tom. It is a great grief to me that I have brought you into this trouble, looking for what I know you think is up Mayor's Nest, as the saying is. Don't talk so George, true pals like you and me, never reproach one another. They stand and fall together like men. The fire is warm, George, that is one comfort. The fire is well enough, but there is nothing down at it. I'd give a hundred pounds for a mutton chop. The friends set like sacrifices by the fire and chewed their cigars in silence with foreboding hearts. After a while, as the heat laid hold of him, George began to doze. Robinson felt inclined to do the same, but the sense that perhaps a human enemy might be near caused him to fight against sleep in this exposed locality. So whenever his head bobbed down, he lifted it sharply and forced his eyes open. It was on one of these occasions that looking up, he saw, set as it were in a frame of leaves, a hideous countenance glaring at him. It was painted in circular lines, red, blue and white. Get up, George, Lord Robinson, they are upon us. And both men were on their feet, revolvers pointed. The leaves parted and out came this diabolical face, which they had never seen before, but with it a figure they seemed to know. And a harsh cackle they instantly recognized and it sounded like music to them. Oh, my dear Jackie cried, George, who'd have thought it was you, where you are a godsend. Good afternoon, oh Jackie, how do you do? Jackie, not Jackie now, because I'm a good deal angry and paint war. Kalinga Lunga, very well thank you. He always took these four words for one. Now I go fetch white fellow and he disappeared. Who is he going to fetch? Is it the one that was following us? No doubt. Then Tom, it was not an enemy after all. Jackie came back with Jim, who inside of them alive and well burst into extravagances. He waved his hat around his head several times and then flung it into a tree and danced upon a surle consisting of steps, not one of them known at the opera house. And janted a song of triumph, the words of which were, Rai told a riddy itty doll and the diddy not. Finally he shook hands with both. Never say die. Well that is hardy and how thoughtful of him to come after us and above all to bring Jackie. That it was, replied George, Jim, said he with feeling I don't know but what you have saved two men's lives. If I don't, it shan't be my fault, farmer. George, oh Jackie, I am so hungry. I've been 24 hours without food. Kalinga Lunga used stupid fellow to go without food, always a good deal food in bush. George is there, then for heaven's sake go and get us some of it. Kalinga Lunga, no need go, food here. He stepped up to the very tree against which George was standing, showed him an excrescence on the bark, made two clean cuts with his tomahawk pulled out a huge white worm. And offered it to George. George turned from it in disgust, the wild sheep grinned superior and aided himself and smacked his lips with infinite gusto. Meantime his quick eye had caught sight of something else, a good deal dinner in distry. Said he and he made the white men observe some slight scratches on the bark, possum claws go up tree. Then he showed them that there were no marks with the claw reversed. A clear proof the animal had not come down, possum in tree. The white men looked up into the bare tree with a mixture of wonder and incredulity. Jackie cut steps with his tomahawk and went up the main stem which was short and then up a fork, one out of above 12. Among all these he jumped about like a monkey till he found one that was hollow at the top. Throw Kalinga Lunga a stone. Then he found possum a good deal quick. They could not find a stone for their lives so being hungry Robinson threw a small nugget of gold he had in his pocket. Jackie caught it, placed it at the top of the hollow fork and let it drop. Listening keenly his fine ear heard the nugget go down the fork, striking the wood first one side then another and then at a certain part sound no more. Down he slips to that silent part, makes a deep cut with his tomahawk just above the spot, thrusts in his hand and pulls out a large opossum. Yelling and scratching and emitting a delicious scent in an agony of fear. The tomahawk soon silenced him and the carcass fell among the applauding whites. Now it was Robinson's turn he carved the raw animal for greater expedition and George helped him to wrap each limb and carcass in a thin covering of clay. Thus prepared it was thrust into the great pile of burning ashes. Look yonder do look at that gem. Why gem what are you up to patrolling like a sentinel out there? Never you he gem was the dry reply you mine the roast captain and I'll mind my business. And gem continued to parade up and down with his gun cocked and as I piercing the wood. To Robinson's repeated and uneasy inquiries what meant this pantomime gem persisted in returning no answer but this. You want your dinner captain eat your dinner and then I'll offer a observation. Meantime as these woods are queer places a little extra caution is no sin. The pie dishes were now drawn out of the ashes and broken and the meat baked with all its juices was greedily devoured. It tastes like a rabbit stuffed with peppermint said George and uncommon nice it is now I am another man. So am I Jackie forever. Now gem I've dined your story if you please. Why are you here for you are a good fellow but you haven't got gumption enough to say to yourself these two will get lost in the bush. I'll take Jackie and pull them out. You're right captain that wasn't the way at all and since your belly is full and your courage is up. You will be able to enjoy my story better than you could afford. Yes so let us have it and Robinson leaned back luxuriously being filled and warmed. First and foremost commenced this artful narrative. There is a chap prowling in this wood at the present time with a double barreled gun to blow out your brains captain. The devil cried Robinson starting to his feet and yours farmer. How do you know as George without moving. That is what I'm going to tell you that Mary MacDaukarty came crying to my tent all through the snow. What is up says I says she murder is up. Then she told me her cousin and Irish boy was at Bevan's store and he heard some queer talk and he looked through a chink in the wall and saw two rascals putting their heads together and he soon made out they were driving a bargain to rob you too. One was to do it the other was egging him on. I must have 50 pounds first says this one. Why says the other because he has been and locked my pile up. That was to be in it with me. I cried Robinson go on Jim. There is a clue anyway. I've got a thicker one behind says the other agreed when will you have it. Why now says the other and this one gave him a note. Pat couldn't see that it was a 50 but no doubt it was. But he saw the man take it and put it in that little tin box and shove it in his bosom. That note was the price of blood said Robinson. Oh the black hearted villains tell me who they are that is all tell me but who they were. The boy didn't know there. It is always so the fools they never know. Stop a bit captain. There is a clue your own word. I and what is the clue as soon as ever the note was safe in his bosom. He says I sold you blind mate. I'd have given 50 sooner than not done this job. Look here says he I've sworn to have a life for each of these and captain said Jim suddenly lowering his voice with that. It seems he held up his right hand. Well yes yes a and there were two fingers amissing on it. Ah now those two fingers are the ones you chopped off with your cutlass the night when the tent was attacked. Why Tom what is this you never told me of this cried George and which are in my pocket in your pocket said George drawing away from him. I farmer wrapped up in silver paper and they shall never leave my pocket till I fitted them on the man and seen him hung or shot with them two pickers and Steelers tied round his blood thirsty mercenary as a sassinate neck. Say that I said it. George. Jackie show us the way out of this wood. Kalinga Lunga about a cent but he expressed a wish to take with him some of the ashes of the one below George helped him Robinson drew Gemma side you shouldn't have mentioned that before George you have discussed it him properly. Oh hang him he needn't be so squeamish. Why I've had him salt there there drop it Jim do captain are you going to let them take us out of the wood before we have hunted it for that. Scoundrel. Yes I am look here Jim we are four and he is one but a double barrel gun is an awkward enemy in a dark wood. No gem we will out with him to the last we will clear the wood and get back to the camp. He doesn't know we have got a clue to him. He will come back without fear and we will nail him with the 50 pound note upon him and then Jack catch. The whole party was now on the move led by Kalinga Lunga bearing the sacred ashes. What on earth is he going to do with them. The chief heard this query and looking back said greatly he take them to Mill Meridian. And the party followed Jackie who twisted and zigzagged about the bush till at last he brought them to a fairy spot whose existence in that rugged wood none of them had dreamed possible. It was a long open glade meandering like a river between two deep irregular fringes of the drooping acacia. And another lovely tree which I only know by its uncouth and melodious cyan to the uncular name the eucalyptus. This tree as well as the drooping acacia leaned over the ground with long leaves like disheveled hair. Kalinga Lunga paused at the brink and said to his companions in a low awestruck voice Mill Meridian. The glade was full of graves some of them fresh glittering with bright red earth under the cool green acacias others richly veiled with golden moss more or less according to their age. And in the recesses of the Grove peeped smoother traces of mortality mossy mounds a thousand years old and others far more ancient still. Now mere excrescences of green known to be graves only by the light of that immense gradation of times and dates and epochs. The floor of the open glade was laid out as a vast parterre each grave a little flowerbed round square oval or rhomboid and all round each bed flowed in fine and graceful curves little paths to narrow for a human foot. Primeval tradition had placed them there that spirits might have free passage to visit all the mighty dead for here reposed no vulgar corpses. Here their heads near the surface but their feet deep in earth sat the great hunters and warriors of every age of the race of Kalinga Lunga once a great nation though now a failing tribe. They sat there this many a day their weapons in their hands ready to start up whenever the great signal should come and hunt once more but without fatigue in woods boundless as the sea and with bodily frames no longer mortal to knock and be knocked on the head odd infinitum. Simple and benign creed. A cry of delight burst from the white men and they were going to spread themselves over the garden of the dead. The savage checked them with horror nobody walked there while him alive said he now you follow me and not speak any words at all or Kalinga Lunga will leave you in the bush hush. The savage paused that even the echo of his remonstrance might die well away before he traversed the garden. He then bowed his head down upon his breast in a set manner and so remain quiet a few seconds in that same attitude he started and walked slowly by the verge of the glade keeping carefully clear of the graves and never raising his head. About half way he stopped and reverently scattered the ashes of the Wambaloa upon three graves that laid near the edge then forward silent downcast reverential. More as omnibus as common as the white men even down to gem understood and sympathize with Kalinga Lunga. In this garden of the dead of all ages they felt their common humanity and followed their black brother silent and awestruck. Melted to by the sweet and sacred sorrow of this calm scene for here death seemed to relax its frown. The dead but to rest from trouble and toil mourned by gentle tender trees. And in truth it was a beautiful thought of these savage men to have given their dead for companions those rare and drooping acacias that bowed themselves and loose their hair so like fair women abandoned to sorrow over the beloved and dead. And night and morning swept with their dewy eyelashes the pillows of the brave. Resquiascant in paché, resurgent in possum for I wish them better than they wish themselves. After Mill Meridian came a thick scrub through which Kalinga Lunga tracked his way and then allowed hurrah burst from off where they were free. The net was broken. There were the mountains before them and the gaunt would behind them at last. The native camp was visible two miles distant and there the party ran and found food and fires in abundance. Black sentinels were set at such distances as to render a surprise impossible and the travelers were invited to sleep and forget all their troubles. Robinson and Jem did sleep and George would have been glad to entribe but was prevented by an unfortunate incident. Lais-en-femme Thoreed found out his infirmity vis that nothing they could do would make him hit them. So half a dozen little rascals potter bellied than you can conceive climbed up and down George sticking in their 20 claws like squirrels and feeling like cold slippery slugs. Thus was sleep averted until a merciful jinn hearing the man's groans came and cracked two or three of these little black pots with a wadi or club. So then George got leave to sleep and just as he was dozing off Ting Tong Tai Tong Tong Tong came a fearful drumming of parchment. A coraboree or native dance was beginning no more sleep till that was over so all hands turned out. A space was clear in the wood women stood on both sides with flaming bows and threw a bright red light upon a particular portion of that space. The rest was darkest pitch time midnight. When the white men came up the dancing had not begun. Kalinga Lunga was singing a preliminary war song. George had picked up some of the native language and he explained to the other that Jackie was singing about some great battle near the Wura Gura River. The Wura Gura why that is where we first found gold why of course it is and yes I thought so. Thought what it is our battle he is describing which of them we live in hot water the one before Jim was our friend. What is he singing oh come that is overdoing it Jackie why Jim he is telling them he killed you on the spot. I'll punch his head no take it easy Sid Robinson he is a poet this is what they call poetical license. Live without sense I call it when here is the man Ting Tong Ting Tong Tong I slew him he fell by the Wura Gura River I slew him Ting Tong he fell Ting Tong by the Wura Gura River Ting Ting Tong. This line Jackie repeated at least 40 times but he evaded not me by the following simple contrivance. I slew him he fell by the Wura Gura River Ting Tong I slew him he fell by the Wura Gura River I slew him he fell by the Wura Gura River with similar changes and then back again. One of our own savages saved a great poet from monotony by similar means. Very good of him the elder Sheridan who used to teach his pupils to trash dead threaten out thus none but the brave none but the brave none but the brave deserve the fair. And now the gins took up the tune without the words and the dance began to it. First two figures ghastly with white paint came bounding like jacks in the box out of the gloom into the red light and dance gracefully. Then one more popped up then another at set intervals of time then another all painted differently and swelled the dance by degrees and still as the dance grew in numbers. The musicians sang and drummed louder and faster by well-planned gradations and the motion rose in intensity till they all warmed into the terrible savage chorable re-jump legs striding wide. Head turned over one shoulder the eyes glaring with fiendish intensity in one direction the arms both raised and grasping wadis and boomerangs till at last they worked up to such a gallop of fierce buck-like leaps that there was a jump for each beat of the music. Now they were in four lines and as the figures in the front line jumped to the right each keeping his distance to a hair the second line jumped to the left the third to the right and the fourth to the left. The twinkle and beauty and symmetry of this was admirable and strange as it may appear not only were the savages now brought up to frenzy at this climax of the dance but the wonderful magnetic influence these children of nature have learned to create and launch in the chorable re so stirred the white men's blood that they went half mad too and laughed and shouted and danced and could hardly help flinging themselves among the mad fiends and jumping and yelling with them. And when the jump was at its fiercest and quickest and the great frenzy boiling over these cunning artists brought it to a dead stop sharp upon the climax and all was still. In another minute they were all snoring but George and Robinson often started in their slumbers dreaming they saw the horrid figures the skeletons lizards snakes tartan shawls and whiten themes the whole lot Lazing at the eyes and mouth like white booed lights come bounding one after another out of the black night into the red torch light and then go striding and jumping and glaring and raging and bucking and prancing and scattering battle and song and joy and rage and inspiration and staring frenzy all around they awoke at daylight rather cold and found piles of snow upon their blankets and the lizards and skeletons and imps and tartan shawls deteriorated the snow had melted on their bodies and the colors had all run some of them away quid multa we all know how beauties look when the sun breaks on them after a ball. They asked for Jackie to their great chagrin he was not to be found they waited getting crosser and crosser till nine o'clock and then out comes my lord from the wood walking toward them with his head down on his bosom the picture of woe the mill meridian movement over again. There don't let us scold him said George I'm sure he's lost a relation or maybe a dear friend anyway I hope it is not a sweetheart poor Jackie. Well Jackie I'm glad you've washed your face now I know you again you can't think how much better you look in your own face than painted up in that unreasonable way like I don't know what all. Like something between a devil and a rainbow suggested Robinson but what is wrong as George kindly I'm almost afraid to ask though encouraged by the tone of sympathy the afflicted chief pointed to his face side and said. Kalinga Lunga paint war and now Kalinga Lunga wash them face and not kill anybody first Kalinga Lunga Jackie again and show your white place in him hill a good deal soon. And the amiable heath and cleared up a little at the prospect of serving George whom he loved. Aboriginally, Jim remained with the natives upon some frivolous pretenses real hope was to catch the rough in whom he secretly believed to be still in the wood is like enough to creep out this way thought Jim and then won't I nail him. In half an hour they were standing under the spot whose existence Robinson had so often doubted. Well George you painted it true it really is a river of quartz running between those two black rocks and that you think is the home of the gold a well I do look here Tom look at this great large heap of quartz boulders all of different sizes they have all rolled down here out of that river of quartz. Why of course they have who doubts that. Many is the time I've sat on that green mound where Jackie is sitting now and eat my bread and cheese. I dare say but what has that to do with it. What are we to do are we to go up the rock and pack into that mass of quartz. Well I think it is worthwhile. Why it would be like biting a piece out of the world look here master George. We can put your notion about the home of the gold to the test without all that trouble. As how you own all these quartz stones rolled out of the on river. If so they are samples of it. Ten thousand quartz stones is quite sample enough. So begin and turn them all over examine them break them if you like if we find but a speck of gold in one of them. I believe that quartz river is gold's home. If not it is all humbug. George pulled a right face he found himself pinned to his own theory. Well said he I own the sample tells us what is in the barn. So now I am vexed for bringing you here. Now we are here give it a fair trial let us set to and break every boulder in the thundering heave. They went to work and picked the quartz boulders full two hours they worked and by this time they had made a considerable heap of broken quartz. It glittered in the sun but it glittered white not a speck of yellow came to light. George was vexed Robinson grinned expecting nothing he was not disappointed besides he was winning an argument and we all like to turn out profits presently a little cackle from Jackie. I find him find what asked Robinson without looking up a good deal Yellowstone replied Jackie with at least equal composure. Let me see that said George with considerable curiosity and they both went to Jackie. Now the fact is that this heap of quartz stones was in reality much larger than they thought only the greater part of it had been overgrown with moss and patches of grass a few centuries of centuries ago. Jackie seated on what seemed a grassy mound was in reality perched upon a part of the antique heap. His keen eye saw a little bit of yellow protruding through the moss and he was amusing himself clipping it with his tomahawk cutting away the moss and chipping the stone which made the latter glitter more and yellower. Hello cry George this looks better. Robinson went on his knees without a word. It is all right said he and a great flutter it is a nugget and a good sized one a pound weight I think. Now then my lad out you come and he dug his fingers under it to jerk it out. But the next moment he gave a screech and looked up amazed why this is the point of the nugget it lies the other way not flat. George I can't move it the pick. Oh Lord oh Lord the pick the pick. Stand clear shouted George and he drove the point of the pick down close by the prize. Then he pressed on the handle. Why Tom it is jammed somehow. No it is not jammed it is its own weight. Why George then Tom it is a hundred weight if it is an ounce. Don't be a fool cried the other trembling all over there is no such thing in nature. The nugget now yielded slowly to the pressure and began to come up into the world again inch by inch after so many thousand years. Of course before it could come all out the soil must open first. And when Robinson glaring down saw a square foot of earth part and gape as the nugget came adjustically up he gave another cry. And with trembling hands laid hold of the prize and pulled and tugged and rolled it on the clean moss to lift it was not so easy. They fell down on their knees by the side of it like men in a dream. Such a thing had never been seen or heard of a hundred weight of quartz and gold and beautiful as it was great. It was like honeycomb the cells of which have been sliced by a knife the shining metal brimmed over in the delicate quartz cells. They lifted it yes full a hundred weight half the mass was quartz but for a fist of the rate they knew must be gold. Then they jumped up and each put a foot on it and shook hands over it. Oh you beauty cried George and he went on his knees and kissed it. That is not because you are gold but because you take me to Susan. Now Tom let us thank heaven for its goodness to us and back to camp this very day. I but stop we must wrap it in our wipes or we shall never get back alive. The very honest ones would turn villains outside of it. It is the wonder of the world. I see my Susan's eyes in it cried George in rapture. Oh Tom good kind honest Tom shake hands over it once more. In the midst of all this rapture a horrible thought occurred. Why it's Jackie's said George faintly he found it. Nonsense nonsense cried Tom uneasily he added however but I'm afraid one third of it is pal share white or black. All their eyes now turned uneasily to the aboriginal who lay yawning on the grass. Jackie give him you George said this worthy savage with superb indifference. He added with a yawn what for you dance coral Boree when I'm not dark. Then you bite Yellowstone continued this original. Then you read then you write then you read again all because we pull up Yellowstone. All this a good deal damn ridiculous. So Tiz Jackie replied Robinson hastily don't you have anything to do with Yellowstone. It would make you as great a fool as we are now show us the shortest cut back home through the budge. At the native camp they fell in with Jim the monstrous nugget was too heavy to conceal from his shrewd eye so they showed it him. The side of it almost knocked him down. Robinson told him where they found it and advised Jim to go and look for another. Alas the great nugget already made him wish one friend away. But Jim said no I will see you safe through the bush first. End of chapter 70. Chapter 71 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. Recording by Maria Fatima the Silver. It is never too late to mend by Charles Reed. Chapter 71. All this time two persons in the gold mine were upon thorns of expectation and doubt. Brutus and Peter Crawley George and Robinson did not return but no more did Black Will. What had happened? Had the parties come into collision? And if so with what result? If the friends had escaped why had they never been heard of since? If on the other hand Will had come off conqueror why had he never reappeared? At last Brutus arrived at a positive conviction that Black Will had robbed and probably murdered the men and was skulking somewhere with their gold thereby defrauding him his pal. However he kept this to himself and told Crawley that he feared Will had come to grief so he would go well armed and see what was the matter and whether he could help him. So he started for the bush well armed. Now his real object I blush to say was to murder Black Will and rob him of the spoils of George and Robinson. Wicked as these men of violence had been six months ago, Gold and Crawley had made them worse, I much worse. Crawley indeed had never openly urged any of them to so deep a crime as murder and it is worthy of note as a psychological fact that this reptile contrived to deceive itself into thinking that it had stopped short of crimes at most limits. To be sure it had tempted and arrived a nudged man to robbery and the circumstances that were almost sure to lead to murder but still murder might not occur. Meantime it had openly discounted that crime and checked the natural proclivity of Brutus and Black Will toward deeds of blood. Self-deception will probably cease after the first blast of the archangels chump it. But what human heart will part with it till then? The circumstances under which a human being could not excuse or justify himself have never yet occurred in the huge annals of crime. Prejudice apart, Crawley's moral position behind Brutus and Black Will seems to bear a strong family likeness to that which holy writ assigns to the great enemy of man. That personage knocks out nobody's brains, cuts nobody's throat, never was guilty of such brutality since the world was. But he finds some third or egotist and whispers how the egotism of his passions or his interests may be gratified by the death of a fellow creature. The egotist listens and blood flows. Brutus and Black Will had both suffered for their crimes. Brutus had been nailed by Carlo, twice gibbeted. And the bridge of his nose broken once. Black Will had been mutilated and Walker nearly drowned, but the close contriver of all harms had kept out of harm's way. Violence had never recoiled on him who set it moving. For all that Crawley, I must inform the reader, was not entirely prosperous. He had his little troubles, too, where the warnings that he was on the wrong path or punishments of his vices are both, I can't say. Thus it was. Mr. Crawley had a natural love of spirits, without a stomach strong enough to deal with them. When he got away from Mr. Meadows, he indulged more and more, and for some months past he had been subject to an unpleasant phenomenon that arises now and then out of the fumes of liquor. At the festive board, even as he raised the glass to his lips, the face of Crawley would often be seen to writhe with a sort of horror and his eyes to become fixed on unseen objects and perspiration to gather on his brow. Then such as were not in the secret would jump up and say, What on earth is the matter? A look fearfully round, expecting to see some horrid sight to justify that look of horror and anguish. But Crawley, his glassy eyes still fixed, would whimper out his teeth chattering and clipping the words. Oh, never mind, it's all only a trifling upspirition. He had got to try and make light of it, because at first he used to cry out in point and then the miners run out and left him alone with his phantoms and this was terrible. He dreaded solitude, he skimmed against it and provided against it and paid fellows to bear him company night and day. And at the festive board it was one thing to drink his phantoms neat and another to dilute them with figures of flesh and blood. He much preferred the latter. At first his supernatural visitors were of a unfavorable but not a ghastly character. Number one was a judge who used to rise through the floor and sit half in and half out of the wall with a tremendous flow of horse hair, a furrowed face, a vertical chasm between the temples and a strike me off the rose eye gleaming with diabolical fire from under a gray shaggy eyebrow. Number two was a policeman who came in through the window and stood imperturbable, all in blue with a pair of handcuffs and a calm eye and a disagreeable absence of effort or emotion and inevitable looking policeman. But as Crawley went deeper in crime and brandy, blood bolted figures erect corpses with the sickening signs of violence in every conceivable form used to come and blast his sight and arrest the glass on its way to his lips and make his songs and the boisterous attempts at mirth of his withered heart die in a quaver and a shiver of fear and despair. And at this period of our tale, these horrors had made room for the phantom more horrible still to such a creature as Crawley. The air would seem too thickened into sulfurous smoke and then too clear and then would come out clearer and clearer, more and more awful, a black figure with hoof and horns and tail, eyes like red-hot carbuncles, teeth ashevo the frieze of white-hot iron and an appalling grin. Footnote, the God-pan colored black by the early Christians and a footnote. End of chapter 71 Chapter 72 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. Recording by Mary Maxwell It is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reid Chapter 72 The party, consisting of Jackie, Jem, Robinson and George, had traversed about one half the bush when a great heavy crow came wheeling and cackling over their heads and then joined a number more who were now seen circling over a gum tree some hundred yards distant. Let us go and see what that is, said Jem. Jackie grinned and led the way. They had not gone very far when another Greek black bird rose so near their feet as to make them jump and peering through the bushes they saw a man lying on his back. His arm was thrown in an easy, natural way round his gun but at a second glance it was plain the man was dead. The crows had ripped his clothes to ribbons with their tremendous beaks and lacerated the flesh and picked out the eyes. They stepped a few paces from this site. There was no sign of violence on the body. Poor fellow, said Jem, how did he come by his end I wonder and he stretched forward and peered with pity and curiosity mingled. Lost in the bush, said Robinson very solemnly and he and George exchanged a meaning look. What is that for, said George angrily to Jackie, grinning in sight of a dead body. White fellow, stupid fellow, was all Jackie's reply. The men now stepped up to the body to examine it not that they had much hope of discovering who it was but still they knew it was their duty for the sake of his kindred to try and find out. George, overcoming a natural repugnance, examined the pockets. He found no papers. He found a knife but no name was cut in the handle. In the man's bosom he found a small metal box but just as he was taking it out Jem gave a hello. I think I know him, cried Jem. There is no mistaking that crop of black hair. It is my old captain, black will. You don't say so. What could he be doing here without his party? Anything in the box George? Asked Robinson. Nothing but a little money. Here's a sovereign. Look, and here's a bank note. A five pound note? Yes. No. It is more than that. A good deal. It is for fifty pounds, Tom. What? Fifty pound note, I tell you. Jem. Captain. A most expressive look was exchanged between these two and by one impulse they both seized the stock of the gun that was in the dead man's hand. They lifted it and yes, two fingers were wanting on the right hand. Come away from that fellow, cried Robinson to George. Let him lie. George looked up in some wonder. Robinson pointed sternly to the dead hand in silence. George, by the light of the other man's faces, saw it all and recoiled with a natural movement of repugnance as from a dead snake. There was a breathless silence and every eye bent upon this terrible enemy lying terrible no longer at their feet. How did he die? asked Robinson in a whisper. In the great snowstorm replied George in a whisper. No said Jem in the same tone. He was alive yesterday. I saw his footprint after the snow was melted. There was snow again last night, Tom. Perhaps he went to sleep in that with his belly empty. Starvation and fatigue would do it without the snow, George. We brought a day's provisions out with us, George. He never thought of that. I will be bound. Not he, said Jem. I'll answer for him. He only thought of robbing and killing. Never thought about dying himself. I can't believe he is dead so easy as this, said Robinson. The feeling was natural. This man had come into the wood and had followed them, burning to work them ill, and they to work him ill. Both were utterly baffled. He had never prevailed to hurt them, nor they him. He was dead, but by no mortal hand. The immediate cause of his death was unknown and will never be known for certain while the world lasts. Le Homme propose, my due dispose. End of Chapter 72 Chapter 73 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 73 Don't keep staring at it so, farmer. It is an ugly sight. You will see him in your sleep if you do that. It was something better to look at a letter. And there I carried it and never once thought of it till the sight of his hand made me feel in my pocket. And then my hand ran against it. It is from Mr. Libri. Thank you, Jem. Tom, will you be so kind as read it me while I work? Yes, give it me, work. What are we going to work at in the bush? I should think you might guess, reply George quietly while putting down his pickaxe and taking off his coat. Well, I am astonished at both of you. You ought to know what I am going to do. Huh, under this tree will be as good a place as any. Jem, as I am a sinner, is going to bury him. Burry what? Nugget. No, Jem, the Christian. In Berkshire, among a certain class, this word means a human being. A pretty Christian, sneered Robinson. You know what I mean, Tom. I know it is very kind of you to take all this trouble to bury my enemy, said Robinson, hurt. Don't ye say that, replied George, hurt in his turn. He was as much my enemy as yours. No such thing, he was here after me and has been tormenting me this twelve months. You have no enemy, a great soft spoon like you. Keep your temper, Tom, answer George in a mollifying tone that each man act according to his lights. I couldn't leave a corpse through the fowls of the air. Jibbit, a murderer, I say don't bury him, especially when he has just been hunting our very lives. Tom, replied George doggedly, death settles all accounts. I like the man as little as you could and it is not to say I'm in love with a man because I sprinkle a little earth over his dead bones. Nugget, this is the unkindest soil to work. It is full of roots enough to break a fellow's heart. While George was picking and rubbing out roots and fighting with the difficult soil, Robinson opened Levi's letter viciously and read out, George, fielding you have an enemy in the mine, a secret cowardly unscrupulous enemy who lies in wait for your return. I've seen his face and tremble for you. Therefore listen to my words. The old Jew whom twice you have saved from harm and himself is rich, his children are dead, the wife of his bosom is dead. He loves no creature now but you and Susanna. Therefore run no more risks for gold since much gold awaits you without risk. Come home, respect the words of age and experience, come home, delay not an hour, oh say not I will sleep yet one more night in my tent and then I will depart but ride speedily after me on the very instant. Two horses have I purchased for you and the young man your friend to swift horses with their saddles. The voucher is enclosed, ride speedily after me, this very hour lest evil before you and yet more sorrow fall upon Susanna and upon Isaac Levi. The reading of this letter was followed by a thoughtful silence broken only by the sound of George's pickaxe and the bursting roots. This is a very extraordinary letter Mr. Levi knows more than he tells you, George. I am of your opinion. Why captain said, Jim, to go by that letter feeling is the marked man and not you after all so it is his own enemy he is digging that grave for. Do you think you will stop him by saying that? Ask Robinson with a shrug. He was my enemy Tom and yours too but now he is nobody's enemy he is dead. Will you help me lay him in the earth or shall I do it by myself? We will help said the others a little sullenly. They brought the body to his grave under the tall gum tree. Not quite so rough Tom if you please. I didn't mean to be rough but I know of there. They laid the dead villain gently and reverently in his grave George took a handful of soil and scattered it over him. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust said he sullenly. The other two looked down and sprinkled soil too and their anger and bitterness began to soften by the side of George and over the grave. Then Jim felt in his pocket and produced something wrapped in silver paper. This belongs that he with a horrible simplicity the farmer is too good for this world but it is a good fault. Their farmer said he looking to George for approbation as he dropped the little parcel into the grave. After all continued Jim good naturedly it would have been very hard upon a poor fellow to wake up in the next world and not have what does belong to him to make an honest living with. The grave was filled in and a little mound made at the foot of the tree then George took out his knife and began to cut the smooth bark. But now oh I see that is a good idea George read them a lesson say in a few words how he came here to do a deed of violence and died himself by the hand of heaven. Tom replied George cutting away at the bark he is gone where he is sure to be judged so we have no call to judge him. God Almighty can do that I do suppose without us putting in our word. Well have it your own way I never saw the toad so obstinate before Jim what is he cutting I wonder the inscription when finished ran thus please don't cut down this tree it is a tombstone a white man lies below. Now Tom for England they set out again with a locality and battled with the bush about two hours more George and Robinson carried the great nugget on a handkerchief stretched double across two sticks Tom carried the pigs they were all in high spirits and made light of scratches and difficulties at last somewhat suddenly they burst out of the thick part into the mere outskirts frequented by the miners and there they came plump upon Brutus with a gun in his hand and pistols peeping out of his pockets come to murder black will and rob him of his spoils they were startled and Brutus astounded for he was fully persuaded that Robinson had ceased to exist he was so dumbfounded that Robinson walked up to him and took the gun out of his hands without any resistance on his part the others came around him and Robinson demanded his pistols what for said he now at this very moment his eye fell upon that fabulous mass of gold they carried and both his eyes opened and a sort of shiver passed over him with ready cunning he looked another way but it was too late Robinson had caught that furtive glance and a chill came over him that this villain should have seen the prize a thing to excite cupidity to frenzy nothing now would have induced Robinson to leave him armed he replied sternly because we are four to one and we will hang you on the nearest tree if you don't give them up and now what are you doing here I was only looking for my pal, said Brutus well you won't want a gun and pistols to look for your pal which way are you going into the bush then missile that is the road Brutus moved gloomily away into the bush there said Robinson he has turned bush ranger I've disarmed him and saved some poor fellow's life and property cover up the nugget George they went on but presently Robinson had a thought Jackie said he you saw that man should you know him again yes Jackie that man is our enemy could you track him by his footsteps without ever letting him see you Jackie smiles superior then follow him and see where he goes and whom he joins and come to the mine directly and tell me Jackie's eyes gleamed at this intelligence he sat down and in a few turns of the hand painted his face war and glided like a serpent on Brutus' trail the rest cleared the wood and brought the nugget safe hidden in their pocket handkerchief to camp they begged Gem to accept the 50 pounds if he did not mind handling the price of blood Gem assured them that he had no such scruples and took it with a burst of thanks then they made him promise faithfully not to mention to a soul about the monster nugget no more he did while he was sober but alas some hours later having a drop in his head he betrayed the secret to one or two say forty Robinson pitched their tent and mounted guard over the nugget George was observed to be in a strange flutter he ran hither and thither ran to the post office ran to the station or got paper drew up a paper found McLaughlin made him sign it went to Mr. Moore showed him Isaac's voucher on which Moore produced the horses a large black horse with both bone and blood and a good cob George was very much pleased with them and asked what Levi had given for them 250 pounds for the pair good heavens cried George what a price Mr. Levi was an earnest then he ran out and went to the tent and gave Robinson his letters but there were none for me Tom sighed George never mind I shall soon now these letters brought joy and triumph to Robinson one contained a free pardon the other was a politeness from the colonial government in answer to the minors petition he had sent up secretary had the honor to inform Mr. Robinson that police were on the road to the mine and that soldiers would arrive by tomorrow to form an escort so that the minors gold might travel in safety down to Sydney this is good news Grud Robinson and what a compliment to me do you hear George an escort of soldiers coming to the camp tomorrow they will take the nugget safe to Sydney not if we are robbed of it tonight replied George at this moment in came Jackie with news of Brutus that Riley Mann had gone by the little way in the bush when he had made a circuit and had slipped back into another part of the mine and Jackie had followed him first by trail afterward by sight and had marked him down into a certain tent on which he had straight way put a little red mark come back after our nugget George fools we were to carry it blazing in folks eyes I dare say we can beat him I'm game to try Jackie I want to put a question to you while Jackie and Tom were conferring in animated whispers George was fixing an old spur he had picked up into the heel of his boot that is capital Jackie well George we have to hit upon a plan and so have I you yes me but tell me yours first Tom Robinson detailed him the scheme with all its ramifications and a very ingenious stratagem it was for all that when George propounded his plan in less than six words Robinson stared with surprise and then gave way to ludicrous admiration well cried he simplicity before cunning look at that now where was my head George this is your day carried Nam Khan and Tom you can do yours all the same can I but yes to be sure I can there he saw that too before why George if you don't mind you will be number one and I number two what makes you so sharp all of a sudden I have to think for Susan as well as us said the poor fellow tenderly that is why I am sharp for once in a way and now Jackie you are a great anxiety to me and the time is so short come sit by me dear Jackie and let me try and make you understand what I have been doing for you but you may be good and happy and comfortable in your old age when your poor limbs turn stiff and you can hunt no longer in grateful return for the nugget and more than that for all your goodness and kindness to me and times of bitter trouble then George shared Jackie how he had given Abner one third of all his sheep and cattle and Jackie two thirds and how McLaughlin of just man would see the division may and do leave the woods except for hunt now Jackie you are too good for them above all George explained with homely earnestness the nature of the sheep her time of lambing etc and showed Jackie how the sheep and cattle would always keep him fed and clothed if he would but use them reasonably and not kill the breeders for dinner and Jackie listened with glistening eyes for George's glistened and the sweet tones of affection and gratitude pierced through this family talk and it is said that we must drop the curtain on this green spot in the great camp and go among our villains End of chapter 73 Chapter 74 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 recording by Maria Fatima the Silver it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid Chapter 74 Robinson did not overrate the fatal power of the fabulous mass of gold a glimpse of which he had unconsciously given to greedy eyes it drew brutes like a magnet after it he came all in a flutter to Mephistopheles and told him he had met the two men carrying a lump of solid gold between them so heavy that the sticks bent under it the sweat ran down me at the sight of it but I managed to look another way directly what with the blows and kicks and bruises and defeats he had received and with the gold mass his lawless eye had rested on Brutus was now in a state of mind terrible to think of lust and hate, terrible twins stung that dark heart to frenzy could he have had his will he would have dispensed with cunning would have gone out and fired bullets from his gun into the tent and if his enemies came out alive have met them hand to hand to slay or be slain but the watchful foe had disarmed him and he was compelled to listen to the more Reynard like ferocity of his accomplice Bill said the assassin of Carlo keep cool and you shall have the swag and yet not lose your revenge neither you tell me how let the bottle alone then you are hot enough without that come nearer me what I have to say is not the sort of thing for me to ball about we should not be alive half an hour if it was her to come from our lips the two heads came close together and crawly leaned over the other side of the table and listened with senses keen as a razor suppose I show you how to make those two run out of their tent like two frightened women and never once think about their swag aww and foreblinded for life or dead or dying while we walk off with the swag blind, dead, dying give me your hand how, how, how hush don't shout like that come closer and use me then a diabolical scheme hissed into the listener's ears a scheme at once cowardly and savage a scheme of that terrible kind that robs courage, strength and even skill of their natural advantages and reduces their onus to the level of the weak and the timid a scheme worthy of the assassin of Carlo and the name I have given this wretch whose brain was so fertile and his heart so fiendish its effect on the hearers was great but very different crawly recoiled no violently but like a serpent on which water had been poured but Brutus broke into a rapture of admiration exultation gratified hate bless you bless you cried he with a violence more horrible than his curses you warm my heart you are a pal what a headpiece you have got you Smith have you nothing to say isn't this a dodge out of the common now for the last minute or two crawly's eyes had been fixed with a haggard expression on a distant corner of the room he did not move them he appeared hardly to have the power but he answered dropping the words down on the table anyway yes it is very ingenious ah Mephisto we must buy the terpentine directly there is only one store sells it and that shuts at nine Brutus do you hear Smith hand us out the blunt crawly oh ah and his eyes seemed fascinated to that spot Brutus following crawly's eye uneasily what is the matter crawly look there no on your right oh his tail is in the fire Brutus whose tail don't be a fool crawly and it doesn't burn oh it burns black in the fire aha now the eyes have caught fire diamonds full of hell they blast ah now the teeth have caught light red hot nails the mouth is as big as the table gaping wider wider wider aha ha Brutus him I won't stay in the room with such a fellow he makes my blood run cold has he cut his father's throat in a church or what crawly shrieking oh don't go oh my dear friends don't leave me alone with it my dear friends you sit down right upon it that sends it away crawly hit his face and pointed wildly to whereabouts they were to sit upon the phantom Brutus come it is gone now was forced nearly to squash it first though ho ho ho crawly yes it is gone thank heaven I'll give up drinking Brutus so now fork out the blunt for the turps crawly no I will give no money toward murder robbery is bad enough where shall we go to and he rose and went out muttering something about a little brandy Brutus the sneak to fail us at the pinch I'll ring his neck round what is this five pounds Mephisto don't you see the move he won't give it to us conscious forbids but if we are such rogues as take it no questions asked the Tarnation hypocrite roared Brutus with disgust hypocrisy was the one vice he was innocent of out of jail Mephistopheles stole crawly's money left for that purpose and went and bought a four gallon cask of turpentine Brutus remained and sharpened an old cutlass the only weapon he had got left crawly and Mephistopheles returned almost together crawly produced a bottle of brandy now said he to Mephistopheles I don't dispute your ingenuity my friend but suppose while we have been talking the men have struck their tent and gone away nugget and all the pair looks terribly blank what fools we were not to think of that crawly kept them in pain a moment or two well they have not said he I have been to look well done cried Mephistopheles well done cried Brutus gasping for breath there is their tent alright how near did you go to it near enough to hear their voices muttering when does the moon rise tonight she is rising now when does she go down soon after two o'clock will you take a share of the work Smith heaven forbid end of chapter 74 chapter 75 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 recording by Maria Fatima the Silver it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 75 it was a gusty night the moon had gone down the tents gleamed in distinctive form but white as snow Robinson's tent stood a little apart among a number of deserted claims some of them dry the most of them with three or four feet of water in them there was however one large tent about 20 yards from Robinson's a man crept on his stomach up to this tent and listened he then joined another man who stood at some distance and whose form seemed gigantic in the dim starlight alright said the spy they are all fastest dormice snoring like hogs no fear from them go to work then, whispered Brutus do your part Mephistopheles laid a deep iron dish upon the ground and removed the bunk from the turpentine cask and poured confound the wind how it wastes the stuff cried he he now walked on tiptoe past Robinson's tent and scattered the turpentine with a bold sweep so that it fell light as rain over a considerable surface a moment of anxiety succeeded would their keen antagonists hear even that slight noise no, no one stirred in the tent Mephistopheles returned to the cask and emboldened by success brought it nearer the doomed tent six times he walked past the windward side of the tent and scattered the turpentine over it it was at the other side his difficulties began the first time he launched the liquid the wind took it and returned it nearly all in his face and over his clothes scarce a drop reached the tent the next time he went up closer with the beating heart and flung it sharper this time full two-thirds went upon the tent and only a small quantity came back like spray by the time the cask was emptied the tent was saturated then this wretch passed the tent yet once more and scattered a small quantity of oil to make the flame more durable and deadly now it is my turn, whispered Brutus I thought it would never come what is that figure crouching and crawling about a hundred yards to windward it is Decatif, Crawley who after freedom totally declining to have anything to do with this hellish act has crept furtively after them partly to play the spy on them for he suspects they will lie to him about the gold partly urged by curiosity he could see nothing at that distance but the dark body of Mephistopheles passing at intervals between him and the white tent he shivered with cold and terror at the crime about to be done and quivered with impatience that it was so longer doing the assassins now divided their force Mephistopheles took his station to leeward of the tent Brutus to windward Crawley saw a sudden spark upon the ground it was Brutus striking a Lucifer march against his heel with this he lighted a piece of tow and running along the tent he left a line of fire behind him and awaited the result his cutlass griped in his hand and his teeth clinched Crawley saw that line of fire come and then creep and then rise and then roar and shoot up into a great column of fire 30 feet high roaring and blazing and turning night into day all round simultaneously with this tremendous burst of fire and light which startled Crawley by bringing him in a moment into broad daylight he saw rise from the earth a black figure with a fiendish face at this awful sight the conscious stricken wretch fell flat and tried to work into the soil like a worm nor did he recover any portion of his presence of mind till he heard a shrill hoop savage and so chilling but mortal and looking up saw Kalinga Lunga go bounding down upon Brutus with gigantic leaps his tomahawk whirling Crawley cowered like a hare and watched Brutus surprised but not dismayed wheeled round and faced the savage cutlass in hand he parried a fierce blow of the tomahawk and with his left fist struck Kalinga Lunga on the temple and knocked him backward half a dozen yards the elastic savage recovered himself and danced like a fiend round Brutus in the red light of the blazing tent warned by that strange blow straight from the armpit a blow entirely new to him he came on with more deadly caution eyes and teeth blew the lights and Brutus felt a chill for a moment but it speedily turned to rage now as the combatants each prepared to strike again screams suddenly issued from the other side the tent so wild despairing and unnatural as to suspend their arms for a moment they heard but saw nothing only the savage heart of Brutus found time to exalt his enemies were perishing but Crawley saw as well as heard a pillar of flame eight feet high burst out from behind the tent and ran along the ground from that conical flame issued those appalling shrieks it was a man on fire the living flame ran but a few steps then disappeared from the earth and the screams seized apparently the fire had not only killed but annihilated its spray and so itself Crawley sickened with horror and for a moment with remorse but already Brutus and Kalinga Lunga were fighting again by the light of the burning tent they closed and this time blood flowed on both sides the savage by a skillful feint cut Brutus on the flesh of the left shoulder but not deep and Brutus once more surprised the savage by delivering point with his cutlass and inflicted a severe graze on the ribs at the sight of his enemies blood Brutus followed up and aimed a fierce blow at Kalinga Lunga's head he could not have made a more useless attack the savage bore on his left arm a shield so cold it was but three inches broad and two feet long but skill and practice had made it an impenetrable defence he received the cutlass on this shield as a matter of course and simultaneously delivered his tomahawk on Brutus' unguarded head Brutus went down under the blow and rolled over on his face the crouching spectator of this terrible combat by the decaying light of the tent heard the heart blow and saw the white man roll upon the ground then he saw the tomahawk twice lifted and twice descend upon the man's back as he lay the next moment the savage came running from the tent at his utmost speed Crawley's first thought was that assistance had come to Brutus his next was a terrible one the savage had first risen from the earth at a spot between the tent and him perhaps he had been watching both him and the tent a moment of horrible uncertainty and then Crawley yielded to his instinct and ran a terrible whoop behind told him he was indeed to be the next victim he run for the dear life no one would have believed he could shumble along at the rate he did his tent was half a mile off he would be a dead man long here he could reach it he turned his yelling head as he ran to sea the fleet savage had already diminished the distance between them by half Crawley now filled the air with despairing cries for help a large tent was before him he knew not whose but certain death was behind him he made for the tent if he could but reach it before the death stroke was given him yes it is near no it is white and looks closer than it is a whoop sounded in his ears it seemed to ring inside his head it was so near he flung himself yelling with terror at the wall of the tent an aperture gave way a sharp cut as with a whip seemed to sting him and he was on his knees in the middle of the tent howling for mercy first to the savage who he made sure was standing over him with his tomahawk then to a man who got him by the throat and pressed a pistol barrel called as an icicle to his cheek mercy mercy the savage he is killing me murder murder help who are you roar the man shaking him oh stop him he will kill me shoot him don't shoot me I am a respectable man it is the savage kill him he is at the door please kill him I'll give you a hundred pounds what is it to do the critter is mad there there you will see a savage shoot him kill him for pity's sake kill him and I'll tell you all I am respectable I'll give you a hundred pounds to kill him why to a smith that gives us all a treat at times don't I oh my dear good friend he has killed me he came after me with his tomahawk have pity on a respectable man and kill him the man went to the door of the tent and sure enough there was Jackie who had retired to some distance the man fired at him with as little ceremony as he would at a glass bottle and as was to be expected missed him but Jackie who had a wholesome horror of the make-thunders ran off directly and went to hack the last vestiges of life out of Brutus Crawley remained on his knees howling and whimpering so piteously that the man took pity on this abject personage have a drop mr smith you have often given me one there I'll strike a light the man struck a light and fixed the candle in the socket he fumbled in a corner for the bottle and was about to offer it to Crawley when he was arrested by a look of silent horror on his visitors face why what is wrong now look look look cried Crawley trembling from head to foot here it comes there is it stale soon its eyes and teeth will catch light it knows the work we have been at the man looked round very uneasily Crawley's way of pointing and glaring over one's head at some object behind one was anything but encouraging what where there there coming through the side of the tent it can come through a wall and Crawley shook from head to foot why that is your own shadow said the man why what a faint hearted one to shake at your own shadow my shadow cried Crawley heaven forbid have I got a tail screeched Crawley reproachfully that you have said the man now I look at you full Crawley clapped his hand behind him and to his horror he had a tail end of chapter 75 chapters 76 and 77 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 recording by Maria Fatima da Silva it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 76 Crawley who what with the habit of cerebral hallucination due to brandy and the present flutter of his spirits and his conscience had for a moment or two lost all the landmarks of probability no sooner felt his hand encounter a tail slight in size but stiff as a pugs and straight as a pointers then he uttered a dismal howl and it is said that for a single moment he really suspected premature coordination had been inflicted on him for his crimes but such delusions are short lived he slew himself round after this tail in his efforts to see it and squinting over his shoulder he did see it and a warm liquid which he now felt stealing down his legs and turning cold as it went opened his eyes still further it was a red spear sticking in his person sticking tight Jackie who had never got so near him as he fancied saw him about to get into a tent and unable to tomahawk him did the best he could flung a light javelin with such force an address that it pierced his coat and trousers and buried half its head in his flesh this spearhead made of jagged fish bones had to be cut out by the simple unagreable process of making all around it a hole larger than itself the operation served to occupy Crawley for the remaining part of the night and exercised his vocal powers this was the first time he had smarted in his penetrable part the skin and it made him very spiteful away went his compunction and at peep of day he shumbled out very stiff no longer dreading but longing to hear which of his enemies it was he had seen wrapped in flame shrieking and annihilated like the snuff of a candle he came to the scene of action just as the sun rose but others were there before him a knot of men stood round a black patch of scorched soil round which was cut a little fragments of canvas burned to tinder talking over a most mysterious affair of the night past it came out that the patrol some of whom were present had been ordered by Captain Robinson not to go their rounds as usual but to watch in a tent near his own since he expected an attack accustomed to keep awake on the move but not in a recumbent posture they had slept the sleep of infancy till suddenly awakened by the sound of a pistol then they had run out and had found the captain's tent in ashes and the man lying near it saw hacked and insensible but still breathing they had taken him to their tent but he had never spoken and the affair was incomprehensible while each was giving some wild opinion or another a faint voice issued from the bowels of the earth invoking aid several ran to the spot and at the bottom of an old claim full 30 feet deep they discovered on looking intently down the face of a man rising out of the clay-y water they lowered ropes and hauled him up how did you come there mate? he had come into the camp in the dark and not knowing the ground and having to tell the truth had a drop he had fallen into the claim he was asked with a narrow suspicion how long ago this had happened more than an hour replied the wily one Crawley looked at him and being unlike the others acquainted with the man's features saw, spite of the clay-cake he was enveloped in that his whiskers were frazzled to nothing and his fiendish eyebrows gone then a sickening suspicion crept over him he communicated it by a look to Mephistopheles acting on it he asked with an artful appearance of friendly interest but the man, the poor man that were in the tent what? the captain on his mate? yes why? you fool they are half way to Sydney by now half way to Sydney and the ghastly look passed between the speaker and Mephistopheles eyelad they rode off on moors two best nags at midnight the captain had a belt around his waist crammed with dust and banknotes cried another and the farmer a nugget as big as a pumpkin on the pommel of his saddle four hours had not elapsed here Crawley and Mephistopheles were on the road to Sydney but not on horseback Crawley had no longer funds to buy two horses and even if he had he could not have born the saddle after the barbarous surgery of last night the lance head was cut out with a cheese knife but he and Mephistopheles joined a company of successful diggers going down with their swag on the road they constantly passed smaller parties of unfortunate diggers who had left the mine in despair when the weather broke and the claims filled with water and the further they went the more wretched was the condition of those they overtook ragged, shoeless, hungry, foot sore, heart sore, poor broken pilgrims from the shrine of Marmin now it befell that 40 miles on this side Sydney they fell in with seven such ragged spectres and while they were giving these a little food up came from the city a large joyful party the eagerness of hope and cupidity on their faces hello are they mad going up to the diggings in the wet weather they were questioned a hundred weight of gold had been found at the diggings and all the town was turning out to find some more such prizes and in fact every mile after this they met a party, great or small, ardent, sanguine on an almost hopeless errand such is the strange and fatal no logic of speculation for us the rare is to turn common and when we have got it be rare as ever Mephistopheles and Crawley parted at the suburb the former was to go to certain haunts and former going to seize the rich prize meantime Crawley would enter the town and discover where the men were lodging if in and in one of the gang must go there as a well-dressed traveller and watch his opportunity if in lodging other means Crawley found the whole city ringing with a great nugget Crawley put eager questions and received ready answers he was shown the bank up to which the men had ridden in broad daylight the one on the big horse had the nugget on his saddle they had taken it and broken it and weighed it and sold it in the bank parlor for 3,800 pounds Crawley did not like this he had rather they had not converted it into paper his next question was whether it was known whether men lodged known? I believe you why they are more thought of than the governor everybody runs to get a word with them gentle or simple you will find them at the shipping to the ship went Crawley he did not be too direct in his queries so he put them in form of a statement you have got some lucky ones here that found the great nugget well we had but they are gone being gone this two hours do you know them? yes sir Crawley without fear as they were gone where are they gone do you know? why home I suppose you chaps make your money out of us but you all run home to spend it what gone to England? gasped Crawley I look there is the ship just being towed out of the harbour Crawley shumbled and tore and ran and was just in time to see the two friends standing with beaming faces on the vessels deck as she glided out on her voyage home he sat down half stupid Mephistopheles went on collecting his gang in the suburbs the steamer cast off and came wheeling back the ship spread her huge white plumage and went proudly off to sea the blue waves breaking white under her bows Crawley sat glaring at all this in a state of mental collapse Chapter 77 thus have I told in long and tedious strains how George Fielding went to Australia to make a thousand pounds and how by industry sobriety and cattle he did not make a thousand pounds and how aided with the help of a converted thief this honest fellow did by gold digging industry and sobriety make several thousand pounds and take them safe away home spite of many wicked devices and wicked men thus have I told how Mr Meadows flung out his left hand into Australia to keep George from coming back to Susan with a thousand pounds and how spite of one stroke of success his left hand eventually failed and failed completely but his right End of Chapter 77 Chapter 78 and 79 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 recording by Maria Fatima de Silva It is never too late to mend by Charles Reed Chapter 78 joyous as the first burst of summer were the months Susan passed after the receipt of George's happy letter many warm feelings combined in one stream of happiness in Susan's heart perhaps the keenest of all was pride at George's success nobody could laugh at George now and insult her again there where she was most sensitive by telling her that George was not good enough for her or any woman and even those who set such store upon moneymaking would have to confess that George could do even that for love of her as well as they could do it for love of themselves next to this her joy was greatest at the prospect of his speedy return and now she became joyfully impatient for further news but not disappointed at his silence till two months had passed without another letter then indeed anxiety mingled now and then with her happiness then it was that Meadows slowly and hesitatingly to the last raised his hand and struck the first direct blow at her heart he struck in the dark he winced for her both before and after yet he struck one marked day a whisper passed through Farnborough that George Fielding had met with wonderful luck that he had made his fortune by gold and was going to marry a young lady out in Australia Farmer Merton brought the whisper home Meadows was sure he would Meadows did not come to the house for some days he half feared to look upon his work to see Susan's face agonized under his blow at last he came he watched her by stealth he found he might have spared his qualms she chatted as usual in very good spirits and just before he went she told him the report with a smile of ineffable scorn she was simple and suspicious and every way without a shield against the Meadows but the loyal heart by its own virtue had turned the dagger's edge a week after this Jeffries brought Meadows a letter it was from Susan to George Meadows read it writhing it breathed kind affection with one or two demematurnal cautions about his health and to be very prudent for her sake not a word of doubt there was however a post script of which the following is the exact wording yes it is all over Farnborough that you are going to be married to someone in Australia two months more passed and no letter from George these two months told upon Susan she fretted and became restless and irritable and cold misgivings crept over her and the anguish of suspense at last one day she amused herself though with hesitation a warm and zin-trusted friend blushing all over with tearful eyes she confessed her grief to Mr Meadows don't tell father sir I hide my trouble from him as well as I can but what does it mean George not writing to me these four months and three days do pray tell me what does it mean and Susan cried so piously that Meadows winced at his success oh Mr Meadows don't flatter me tell me the truth while he was exalting in her firmness who demanded the truth better or not she continued only don't tell me that I am forgotten and she looked so piously in the oracle's face that he forgot everything in the desire to say something she would like him the better for saying he murdered perhaps he has sailed for home he expected her to say and if he has he would have written to me before sailing but instead of this Susan gave a little cry of joy oh how foolish I have been Mr Meadows you are a friend out of a thousand you are as wise as I am foolish poor George you will never let him know I was so wicked as to doubt him and Susan brightened with joy and hope the heart believes so readily the thing it longs should be true she was happy all the rest of the evening Meadows went away mad with her for her folly and with himself for his feebleness of purpose and next market day again the whisper went round the market the George Fielding was going to marry out there this time a detail was sketched in it was a lady in the town of Bathurst old Merton brought this home and tweeted his daughter she answered heartily that it was a falsehood she would stake her life on George's fidelity see Mr Meadows they are all against poor George all except you but what does it mean if he does not write or come soon I think I shall go mad report is a common liar I would not believe anything till I saw it in black and white said Meadows doggedly no more I will soon after this William Fielding had a talk with Susan have you heard a report about George yes I have heard a rumor you don't believe it I hope why should I believe it I'm going to trace it up to the liar that forged it if I can Susan suppressed her satisfaction at this resolution of Will Fieldings is it worthwhile asks she coldly if I didn't think so I shouldn't take that much trouble not expecting any thanks have I said anything to offend you asks Susan with a still more frigid tone the other did not trust himself to answer but two days after he came again and told her he had written a letter to George telling him what reports were about and begging for an answer whether or not there was any truth in them a gleam of satisfaction from Susan's eyes but not a word this man who had once been George's rival at heart was the last to whom she would openly acknowledge her doubts then Will went on to tell her that he had traced the rumor from one to another up to a stranger whose name nobody knew but I dare say Mr. Meadows has a notion no are you sure yes he would have told me if he had William gave a snort of incredulity and hinted at probably Mr. Meadows himself was at the bottom of the scandal now Meadows' artful conduct had fortified Susan against such a suspicion and being by nature a warm hearted friend she fired up for him as she would have for Mr. Eden or even for poor Will in his absence she did it too in the most womanish way she did not tell the young man that she had consulted Mr. Meadows and that he had constantly discredited the report and set her against believing it had she done this she would have staggered the simple-minded Will but no she said to herself he has attacked a good friend of mine I won't satisfy him so far as to give him reasons so she merely snubbed him oh I know you are set against poor Mr. Meadows he is a good friend of ours of my father and me and of George too I wish you may not have to alter your mind sneered Will I will not without a reason I will give you a reason do you remember that day when you insulted him in his own house and me into the bargain Will not you Susan least ways I hope not but him I did and I'm just as like to do it again well when you were gone I took a thought and I said appearances deceive the wisest I may be mistaken he he he I don't know what you are laughing at and then says I it is his own house after all so I said if I am wrong and you don't mean to undermine my brother take my hand and I gave it him and he refused it no Susan well then but Susan said William solemnly his hand lay in mind like a stone really now a lump of ice would be as near the mark well is that the reason you promised me William nodded William you are a fool oh I am a fool now you go and insult a man you're superior in every respect and the very next moment he is to give you his hand as warmly as to a friend and an equal you really are too foolish to go without a keeper and if it was in any man's power to set me against poor George altogether you have gone the way to do it this twelve months past and Susan closed the conference abruptly it was William's fate to rivet matters influenced by every blow he aimed at it for all that the prudent matters thought it worth his while for himself of dishonest and determined foe and he had already taken steps he had discovered that this last month William Fielding returning from market had been seen more than once to stop and chat at one Mrs. Holidays a retired small tradeswoman in Farnborough now Mrs. Holiday was an old acquaintance of Meadows and had given him sugar plums thirty years ago it suited his purpose to remember certain these old sugar plums and that Mrs. Holiday had lately told him she wanted to get out of the town and end her days upon turf there was a cottage, paddock and garden for sale within a hundred yards of the Grove Meadows bought them a good bargain and offered them to the widow at a very moderate rent the widow was charmed why we can keep account Mr. Meadows well there is grass enough the widow took the cottage with enthusiasm Mrs. Holiday had a daughter a downright handsome girl and a good girl into the bargain Meadows had said to himself it is not the old woman Will Fielding goes there for well she will want someone to teach her how to farm that half acre of grass and buy the cow and milk her friendly offices chat coming and going come in Mr. Fielding and taste your cow's cream and when he has got a lass of his own his eye won't be forever on mine Williams letter to George went to the post office and from the post office to a little pile of intercepted letters in Meadows desk Chapter 79 Nearly eight months had now elapsed without a letter from George Susan could no longer deceive herself with hopes George was either false to her or dead she said as much to her false friend this inspired him with an artifice as subtle as unscrupulous a letter had been brought to him by Jeffries which he at once recognized as the plan letter from Crowley to another tool of his in Farnborough this very day he set about a report that George was dead it did not reach Susan so soon as he thought it would for old Merton hesitated to tell her but on the Sunday evening with considerable reluctance and misgivings he tried in a very clumsy way to prepare her for sad news but her mind had long been prepared for bitter tidings fancy eight weary months spent in passing every possible calamity before her imagination death as often as any she fixed her eyes on the old man father George is dead old Merton hung his head and made no reply that was enough Susan crept from the room pale as ashes she thought it but she did not fall she reached her room and locked herself in end of chapter 79