In A New World; or, Among The Gold Fields Of Australia Read online

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  IN A NEW WORLD

  AMONG THE GOLD-FIELDS OF AUSTRALIA

  BY

  HORATIO ALGER, JR.

  AUTHOR OF "FACING THE WORLD," "DO AND DARE," "RAGGED DICK SERIES,""LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

  PHILADELPHIA

  PORTER & COATES

  FAMOUS ALGER BOOKS.

  RAGGED DICK SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 6 vols. 12mo. Cloth. RAGGED DICK. FAME AND FORTUNE. ROUGH AND READY. MARK THE MATCH BOY. BEN THE LUGGAGE BOY. RUFUS AND ROSE.

  TATTERED TOM SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. FIRST SERIES. TATTERED TOM. PAUL THE PEDDLER. PHIL THE FIDDLER. SLOW AND SURE.

  TATTERED TOM SERIES. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. SECOND SERIES. JULIUS. THE YOUNG OUTLAW. SAM'S CHANCE. THE TELEGRAPH BOY.

  CAMPAIGN SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 3 vols. FRANK'S CAMPAIGN. PAUL PRESCOTT'S CHARGE. CHARLIE CODMAN'S CRUISE.

  LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. FIRST SERIES. LUCK AND PLUCK. SINK OR SWIM. STRONG AND STEADY. STRIVE AND SUCCEED.

  LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. SECOND SERIES. TRY AND TRUST. BOUND TO RISE. RISEN FROM THE RANKS. HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY.

  BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. BRAVE AND BOLD. JACK'S WARD. SHIFTING FOR HIMSELF. WAIT AND HOPE.

  PACIFIC SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. THE YOUNG ADVENTURER. THE YOUNG MINER. THE YOUNG EXPLORERS. BEN'S NUGGET.

  ATLANTIC SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. THE YOUNG CIRCUS RIDER. DO AND DARE. HECTOR'S INHERITANCE. HELPING HIMSELF.

  WAY TO SUCCESS SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. BOB BURTON. THE STORE BOY. LUKE WALTON. STRUGGLING UPWARD.

  NEW WORLD SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth. DIGGING FOR GOLD. FACING THE WORLD. IN A NEW WOULD.

  _Other Volumes in Preparation._

  COPYRIGHT, 1893, BY PORTER & COATES.

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. OLD FRIENDS IN MELBOURNE, . . 1

  II. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, . . . 9

  III. FLETCHER ACTS SUSPICIOUSLY, . . 18

  IV. A TIMELY RESCUE, . . . . . 26

  V. STARTING FOR THE MINES, . . . 31

  VI. A NIGHT INCIDENT, . . . . . 40

  VII. PARTING COMPANY, . . . . . 49

  VIII. A VICTIM OF TREACHERY, . . . 58

  IX. A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE, . . . 66

  X. FLETCHER TURNS UP AGAIN, . . . 74

  XI. TAKEN CAPTIVE, . . . . . . 83

  XII. THE HOME OF THE BUSHRANGERS, . 91

  XIII. A TRIAL AND ITS TRAGIC FINALE . 100

  XIV. ELECTION OF A NEW CAPTAIN, . . 108

  XV. LOST IN THE WOODS, . . . . . 118

  XVI. THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, . . . . 125

  XVII. A WELCOME IN THE WILDS, . . . 134

  XVIII. A DANGEROUS ACQUAINTANCE, . . 142

  XIX. A RUFFIAN FOILED, . . . . . 151

  XX. THE BOYS ARRIVE AT BENDIGO, . . 130

  XXI. BUYING A CLAIM, . . . . . . 168

  XXII. STRIKING LUCK, . . . . . . 177

  XXIII. RAISING THE NUGGET, . . . . 186

  XXIV. THE NUGGET IN DANGER, . . . . 194

  XXV. THE MIDNIGHT ROBBERY, . . . . 202

  XXVI. A THIEF'S EMBARRASSMENT, . . . 210

  XXVII. BAFFLED CUPIDITY, . . . . . 219

  XXVIII. THE NUGGET IN SAFETY, . . . . 227

  XXIX. SELLING THE CLAIM, . . . . . 235

  XXX. THE Two CONSPIRATORS, . . . . 244

  XXXI. TAKEN CAPTIVE, . . . . . . 253

  XXXII. OBED IN A TIGHT PLACE, . . . 262

  XXXIII. THE TABLES ARE TURNED, . . . 271

  XXXIV. FAREWELL TO MELBOURNE, . . . 279

  XXXV. SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES, . . . 288

  XXXVI. A HEART-BROKEN RELATIVE, . . . 293

  XXXVII. HOME AGAIN, . . . . . . . 300

  XXXVIII. THE BOYS' SECURE POSITIONS, . . 307

  XXXIX. CONCLUSION, . . . . . . . 314

  IN A NEW WORLD.

  CHAPTER I.

  OLD FRIENDS IN MELBOURNE.

  A stout gentleman of middle age and two boys were sitting in the publicroom of a modest inn in Melbourne. The gentleman was known to the publicas Professor Hemmenway, who announced himself on the programme of hisentertainment as "The Magician of Madagascar," though he freelyconfessed to his confidential friends that he had never seen the islandof that name.

  The two boys were Harry Vane and Jack Pendleton, American boys ofsixteen. One had come to Australia as assistant to the professor, andhad been accustomed to sing one or two popular songs at the magicalentertainments which he gave, besides rendering himself generallyuseful. Jack Pendleton was a young sailor, who had resolved to try hisfortune in the new country, either at the mines or in any otheremployment offering fair compensation, before resuming his profession.Harry and the professor had been passengers on board Jack's ship, andthe two boys had struck up an enduring friendship. The ship had beenwrecked, and they had spent some weeks together on an uninhabitedisland, from which they were finally rescued, as related in a precedingstory, "Facing the World." It had been the professor's intention to givea series of performances in Melbourne and other parts of Australia, butthe unexpected delay had led him to change his plans, and he nowproposed to return to America at once. Harry Vane, however, having nonear family ties, for he was an orphan, felt inclined to stay with Jack,and try his luck for a time in the New World, which appealed strongly tohis imagination and youthful love of adventure. The day had arrived forthe professor's departure, and he and the two boys were waiting for thelighter to take him down the Yarra Yarra River to the point ofembarkation, eight miles distant.

  "Harry," said the professor kindly, "I don't like to leave you here. Youare only sixteen, and I feel that it is a great undertaking for you toattempt to make a living so many thousand miles from your native land. Ishall feel anxious about you."

  "I don't feel anxious about myself, professor," said Harry, with theconfidence natural to youth. "I am young and strong, and I mean tosucceed."

  "But suppose you fall sick?"

  "Then Jack will look out for me."

  "You may be sure of that, Harry," said the young sailor, with a glanceof affection at Harry.

  "You might both fall sick."

  "Is it best to borrow trouble?" said Harry, smiling. "I think we shallcome out all right. But I am sorry you won't stay with us, professor."

  Professor Hemmenway shook his head.

  "I am three times your age, Harry," he said, "and am not as hopeful orsanguine as you. Besides, I have a wife and children at home who arealready very anxious at my long silence; I did indeed mean to make aprofessional tour of Australia, but the shipwreck, and those lonelyweeks on the island changed my plans. Henceforth I shall restrict myselfto America. I have a competence already, and can make an income at hometwice as large as my expenses. Why should I incur any risks?"

  "I don't know but you are right, professor, but Jack and I are not sofortunate. Neither of us has a competence, and our prospects areprobably better here than at home."

  "Remember, Harry, that if you return I shall be glad to continue yourengagement and will even increase
your salary."

  Jack Pendleton fixed his eyes anxiously on Harry's face. He feared thathe would yield to the professor's persuasion, and leave him, but hisanxiety was soon removed.

  "Thank you, professor," said Harry, "but I don't want to leave Jack. IfI return in bad luck, I may look you up and see whether the offer stillholds good."

  "Do so. You will always find a friend in me. But that reminds me, Harry,of an important consideration. If you are to remain here, you will wantsome money."

  "I have sixty dollars which I have saved up in your service."

  "And how much have you, Jack?"

  The young sailor colored, and looked a little uneasy.

  "I have only ten dollars," he answered.

  "That is, we have seventy dollars between us, Jack," said Harrypromptly.

  "That is too little," said the professor, shaking his head. "You mustlet me be your banker."

  "On one condition, professor, with thanks for your kindness."

  "What is that?"

  "A gentleman at home, Mr. Thomas Conway, President of the Craven CountyRailroad, has charge of two hundred and fifty dollars belonging to me. Iwas fortunate enough to save a railroad train from destruction, and thisis the money the passengers raised for me. I will give you an order onhim for the amount of your loan."

  "That is unnecessary, Harry; I am willing to wait till your return toAmerica."

  "Something might happen to me, professor, and I shall feel morecomfortable to think that my debts are paid."

  "Have your own way, then, Harry. Shall I give you the whole amount?"

  "No, professor, I am afraid it would make me less enterprising."

  "How much shall it be?"

  "Jack and I have seventy dollars between us. A hundred more ought to besufficient."

  "As you please, Harry, but if you get into trouble, promise tocommunicate with me, and send for assistance."

  "I will, sir."

  At this moment a carriage drew up in front of the inn.

  "It is the carriage I ordered to take me to the lighter," said theprofessor. "You and Jack must go with me to the ship and see the last ofme."

  "With great pleasure, sir. Come along, Jack."

  The hackman put the professor's trunk aboard the carriage, and they setout for the banks of the river. It was a new trunk, bought in Melbourne,for the professor's trunk and clothing had been lost at the time of theshipwreck. His first care had been to get a complete outfit inMelbourne, and he was now as well provided as when he left New York.

  The two boys found the trip down the river a pleasant one. The trip byland would have been considerably shorter, but the professor preferredthe river. The distance to the mouth is nine miles. Vessels would beable to ascend the river but for two bars which obstruct its course. Thecity of Melbourne is situated chiefly on the north bank, and is atpresent a handsomely built and prosperous town of about five hundredthousand inhabitants. At the time of Harry's arrival it had less thanhalf that number. The country bordering the river is not particularlyinviting, but it was new, and the two boys regarded it with interest.The soil was barren and sandy, and the trees, which were numerous, wereeucalyptus or gum trees, which do not require a rich soil, but grow withgreat rapidity on sterile soil.

  "What peculiar leaves?" said Harry, "they look like leather."

  "True," said the professor, "and you notice that instead of having onesurface toward the sky and the other toward the earth they are placededgewise."

  Soon they reached the mouth of the river, and there, just beyond thebar, rode the good ship _Arcturus_, on which the professor was to sailfor Boston. His baggage was hoisted on board, and then the professorhimself followed.

  "Will you come on board, boys?" he asked.

  "No, sir; we will go back by the lighter."

  "Then good-by, and God bless you and bring you good luck."

  Harry could not help feeling sober as he bade farewell to his goodfriend, the professor.

  "I have only you now, Jack," he said. "I don't know what lies before us,but we must stick fast to each other in sunshine and in storm."

  Jack's only answer was to seize Harry's hand and press it warmly.Nothing more was needed.

  CHAPTER II.

  PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

  The two boys returned to the Crown Hotel in time for dinner, of whichthey partook with the zest to be expected of boys thoroughly healthy.When the meal was over they repaired to the public room.

  "Now, Jack," said Harry, "it is necessary for us to settle on ourplans."

  "All right," said Jack.

  "Have you anything to propose?"

  "No, Harry, you are smarter than I am, and I leave it to you."

  "Thank you, Jack, for your confidence, but we are on a par here. Neitherof us knows much about Australia. We have a great deal to learn."

  "Then you had better decide for us both."

  "Very well, I accept the responsibility, but I prefer to talk over myplans with you. First of all, then, shall we stay in Melbourne, orstrike for the mines?"

  "Just as you say, Harry, but I would prefer the mines."

  "I feel that way myself, and for that reason I have been making someinquiries. There are three principal localities, Ballarat, Bendigo, andOvens. We might try one of the three, and if we don't have good luckmake our-way to another."

  "Which shall we try first?"

  "I have thought of Bendigo. I hear of one party that cleared twothousand pounds out of one hole."

  "How much is that?" asked Jack, who was not very well acquainted withany but United States currency.

  "It is equal to ten thousand dollars," answered Harry.

  "That's a big pile of money," said Jack, his eyes sparkling.

  "True, but we mustn't expect to be so fortunate. It isn't everybody whosucceeds as well as that."

  "I should be satisfied with a thousand, Harry."

  "And what would you do with it, Jack?"

  "Convey it home to my mother, Harry. But I would fix it so that mystep-father couldn't get hold of it."

  "You are a good boy, Jack, for thinking so much of your mother. I wish Ihad a mother to provide for," and Harry Vane looked sober.

  "Do you know how far off Bendigo is, Harry?"

  "About a hundred miles. That is, it is seventy-five miles to MountAlexander, and the mines are twenty-five miles to the north of that."

  "It won't take us long to travel a hundred miles," said Jack hopefully.

  "On the contrary, it will be a long and difficult journey, as far as Ican find out. The country is full of bogs, swamps, and moist land."

  "Then we can't walk?"

  "No; the custom is to charter a cart, drawn by oxen, which will give achance to carry a stock of provisions. The roads are not very wellmarked, and are often impassable."

  This description rather discouraged Jack, who was more used to the seaand its dangers than to land travel.

  "I wish we could go by water," he said.

  "So do I, Jack, but unfortunately Bendigo happens to be inland. However,you've got good stout legs, and can get along as well as the thousandsthat do go. Besides, it will give us a fine chance to see the country."

  "Ye-es," said Jack doubtfully, for he had very little of the traveller'scuriosity that prompts so many to visit strange lands.

  "There's another difficulty besides the mud," continued Harrythoughtfully.

  "What's that?"

  "The bushrangers."

  "Who are they?"

  "Haven't you heard of them?" asked Harry in surprise.

  "I heard two men speaking of them last night, but I didn't take muchnotice."

  "They are highwaymen--robbers, who wander about and attack parties ofminers and travellers, and unless successfully resisted, strip them ofall their property."

  "Are we likely to meet them?" said Jack eagerly.

  "I hope not; but we stand a chance of doing so."

  "When are we going to start?" asked Jack with alacrity.

  "Do you
want to meet these gentlemen, Jack?" inquired Harry with asmile.

  "There'll be some fun about it," responded Jack.

  Harry shrugged his shoulders.

  "I don't think there'll be much fun about being robbed," he said. "Iwould rather they would give us a wide berth, for my part."

  Jack did not answer, but from that time he was eager to set out for themines. The hint of danger invested the journey with a charm it had nothitherto possessed in his eyes.

  While the boys were conversing, a tall man, with heavy black whiskersand wearing a rough suit and a slouch hat, appeared to listenattentively. At this point he rose from his seat, and lounged over towhere Harry and Jack were seated.

  "Young gentlemen," he said, "do I understand that you are thinking ofgoing to the mines?"

  "Yes, sir," answered Harry, surveying his inquirer with some attention.

  "And you talk of going to Bendigo?"

  "Yes; do you know anything about the place?"

  "I ought to. I only came from there last month."

  "What luck did you have there, may I ask?"

  "Pretty fair. I brought back about a hundred and fifty pounds in golddust:"

  "And how long were you there?"

  "Four weeks."

  "That is pretty good pay for the time."

  "That's so, especially as I made little or nothing the first threeweeks. I struck it rich the last week."