SERIAL STORY.

Oxford Observer, Volume 1, Issue XXII, 28 December 1889, Page 3

SERIAL STORY.

Specially written for ' Tlie Observer.' THE SILVER STREAK TRAGEDY [By an Old Digger.] (Continued.) "Ho 1 Ho ! 1 Ho I ! ! Say that again Jack," and we will folloy you anywhere, everywhere. You would make a slashing mines reporter." " Order," said Owen, but joining m the laugh nevertheless. "Go on, Jack, I am all attention." " Well, as I was a-saying when I was interrupted," said Jack, " I want ter show that our party is constituted of the right sort of stuff to carry out such a enterprise as I have often inchoated, and that is, to proceed to the

head waters of the Abercombie, and there search for gold and o'her minerals, not forgetting our usual pastimes of capturing fat kang.iroo, river col, mountain duck, and wonga, and (last, but not least) to enjoy what we have often done afore, the beautiful works er nature, which is afforded free gratis to every prospector and traveller who ain't too lazy to open his eyes to look at em." " Well spoken Jack," said Charlie, " But the constituents, Jack, you forget that." " Not I," said Jack. "I ain't forgot nothen ; though I did not prepare a speech. Like our Scotch parson, I believe m ex tempore." " In what, Jack?" said Peter. " Why m make it up as you go, Peter, stright from the heart. It's more likely to be genuine than a long string of your bookshinary words from the end of a quill. Well, boys, I have described Charlie, now there is Owen, our worthy carpenter, who can build a hut, a sluice box, or a cradle " "Or a perambulator," said Peter. " Which you are not likely to want," said Jack. " And now I come to you Peter, and, as you know, I am not much given to flattery, I don't quite know what you are good for except " "Except," said Peter, "to sample wine. Pass the bottle, Jack, and get on with your last but not least, Jack M'Leod, a Cromarty fisherman by birth, a sailor by profession, a golddigger by choice. Now, Jack, what of him ? " " Well, of course," said Jack. " Like most men, I have a high opinion of my own " "Circumlocution," added Peter. And this ended the colloquy with a hearty burst of laughter all round. Pipes and glasses were refilled, and the party were about to drink success to the expedition, when the landlord entered the room, and said, " Permit me to join you, gentlemen, and, as I perceive the bottle is empty, allow me to furnish another at my own expense. Your health, and success to the prospecting tour ; and, whether successful or not, whether fortune smiles or frowns, remember this — whenever you come to town just give us a call, and if you cannot pay for what you order I will trust you till you can." Thus ended what diggers call a spree m town. But now years have passed away, and it is pleasant to remember that our little party knew where to draw the line between enjoyment and excess, and, as we retired to our sleeping apartments, not drunk but pleasantly stimulated, we felt that the fortnight we had spent m and around beautiful Sydney were some at least of the pleasantest days of our lives. (To be continued?)