IN THE WAKE OF FORTUNE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3098, 12 September 1899, Page 6

IN THE WAKE OF FORTUNE.

AM AUSTRALIAN STORY. » n IVAN DEXTER. - ■ ♦ CHAPTBB XXVll.— Continued. Why, then, ehould he not chare hie good ' rtuna with Iheee men who had placed it * thin hie grasp T Hib resolve was soon taken; Mate*," he said, "I want you to spare hour ftnd come along with me. I will •-'■ow yoa Ihat yon have only got the edge of c field | and, ac I am Indebted to you : i* atiy, I vi going to chare my lack with •* ou." It took him eeveral minutes to convince his friende thai he was ia earnest^ but at last thay agreed he accompany him to hi" find. : In hall aa hoar the seven men stood before the wonderfnl cascade.and they were almost I-araiyse* aft Ihe eight of Ihe staniferous riches. In mala wonder Ihey surveyed the scene and thea Trenoweth took the leader by the aim and walked ta Ihe nearest peg which he had pal ia, "Toa ccc thief" he Baid to the men. "Now, aa yoa all come in with me, this -will be oar joint lease, for it is to yoa in a great measure I owe this fortune." " Tou are indeed a mate," broke in Bill • " but we haTe got a* area, too, and let us •lub the loft,'' ''Tea; left at elab," eohosd ibe men. And co it was decided. Next day il wae deoided that Trenoweth and " Jaok " ehould go to Launceston to make the necessary arrangements. Before doing so, other areas were taken up, in addition to the prospectors* pre-emp-tive rights; and, practically, the seven men held the whole of the Biscboff field, On reaching Launceton, Trenowetb found tbat a vessel was about leaving for Melbourne, and he sent a letter to John Barr, detailing the events which had occurred since he landed. | He strongly urged his friend to watoh the Stock Exchange, and if— as was certain to he — Biscboff stook waa placed on the market, to invest in tbem, j As soon ac the Governmental details were ! arranged the particulars of tbe discovery were published in the Tasmanian papers and the correspondents sent tbe news far and wide across tbe oontinent. A few months more sufficed to prove tbe richness of the field, and then the hub of the universe— London— was made acquainted with the discovery. In six months from Trenoweth's first visit to Launceston a town had grown np in tbs primeval forest, called Waratab ; and the hum of busy industry resounded in the once silent place. The Biachof! mine was founded, and tbe discoverers could count themselves amongst the riohestof Australians. The companies which were floated paid thera £150,000 in caßh for tbe leases, and 60 000 paid-up promoters' shares were also divided amongst the lucky discoverers of the field. It was surmised by interested journals tbat the field would prove an evanescent one.but as one developement succeeded another all these conj-ctures were completely blown to the winds. Gradually the immense deposits of tin ore were laid bare and the success of the discovery assured. In the short space of twelve months ten thousand souls were located within a mile ci Mount Biscboff and the place became of national importance. Tbe Government turned its eyes towards the place, and it was deemed advisable to lay down a railway irom Emu Bn/ to the tin field. This was a work of considerable magnitude, for the route of the line lay through a rugged country. Trenoweth and the original finders took the subject up in a practical fashion and volunteered heavy subscriptions to assist tbe enterprise. As usual, red tape, departmental apathy and circumlocution barred tbe way, and Edward decided to go to Hobart and personally exert himself. With that characteristic spirit of curiosity which marked him, he insisted on making an overland journey instead of going to Launceston and taking rail from thence to Hobart. Accompanied only by " Jack " Howe, one of his co-finderß.heleft Waratab and plunged into the ranges at the back. Tbe country beyond was really terrible to erosa. Keeping on the summit of the mount tbey at last reached Cradle Mount, an eminence in the range which gave birth to the Dove , Eiver. ; Leaving here, they plunged into a gloomy valley to reach the separate range in which Mounts Rugged and St. Clair rose. This journey well nigh proved fatal to Ihe two of them. In the depths they encountered a terriffic obstacle in the bauri vine, which in place f interlaced over deep ravines and formed veritable man-traps. I Howe fej.l down through one of them, and in trying to rescue him Trenoweth nearly lost his life. They next Btruck the Surprise River, and passed over country teeming with mineral riches. They just missed Mount Lyell, or tbat mass, of pre could have been revealed twenty years before it was. Skirting round the huge peak of the Frenchman's Cap, tbey crossed the Hobhouse range and entered the heart of the wildest country in Tasmania. Howe, who had not the explorer's enthusiasm which was implanted in Trenowetb, Inwardly cursed bis folly in making such a gratuitous journey. At Wyld Crags he openly rebelled, when Edward expressed his intention of keeping to the west coast until Port Davey was .reached.' ■'•_...,.; „.y 'AAA: A He. stoutly announced his intention of going due east to the overland railway to Brighton. '"- 'A By skirting the River Jordan, which wf s some thirty milee away, they could easily teach tha rail.

_„ } At .first Sdward demurred, but on refled- ►" tiott he agreed to fall in with biscompaniU In fact, it was forcing itself upon bim that they wera running Imminent risk of starvation. .'■ \ The food /they took with them from Wis. ratah had long since run out, and the inhof-j- 3 pitable region afforded little or nothing in tha way of sustenance. \ ' Tha fair stray Tasmanian devils and opos- . sums which were met with were not by any * means tha amd oi animal to which an epicure would turn. Though Trenoweth had lived witb hiß friend Kallakoo on snake and other delicacies of the sort, it was not by choice, but of necessity. - Taking their course from Wyld Crags they reachedsettlement in a couple of days, and, after "getting the railway, they arrived at Hobart next day This journey was the first ever undertaken from Bischoff over such a route ; and, though no disco veiries bf importance were made, it proved the practicability of a small and poorly-equipped party crossing the island. In the early days of Van Dieman's Land, when bueb ranging was a recognised pastime, some few expeditions had penetrated the Lake country, but bad never gone beyond tbe great dividing range into the district that ran down to the sea. The west was practically, even in 1872, a terra incognita, though a few intrepid men connected with the Lands department bad made flying incursions. Bisohoff and others had gone from the coast and given tbeir names to rivers and mountains, but no practical good had ever resulted. The unusual amount of moisture which tbe winds from the Southern Ocean brought up, and which was intercepted by the hig& lands of the interior, produced a vegetation that, like tbat in Brazil, almost defied the efforts of man to cope with it. Nothing but the magic power of gold or the other valuable minerals could clear the wilderness, and in later yeara that power was invoked. In Hobart Trenoweth and his friend soon smoothed tbe difficulties wbich barred the way of tbe Waratah railroad, Bnd that set. tied, Edward decided, as a sort of relaxation to visit Melbourne. Nearly a year had passed since be bad seen his friend Barr, and be felt a sort of irresistible longing to again clasp his hand, He had received but one letter from bis mother during that twelve months, and that somewhat surprised him. Barr bad sent the latter to Launceston and Fraser, the local agent, forwarded it on to Waratah. When he reached Launceston after leaving Hobart, Trenoweth was somewhat surprised to find a letter awaiting him from Barr. It was a brief epistle, and simply intimated that the writer had something of importance to communicate and would like to see Trenoweth. At first Trenoweth thought the request bad reference to some transaction in BischofE tin shares. It might be mentioned tbat tbat Barr bad not neglected the advice given to him by Trenoweth when tbe discovery was first made, and he bad realised a considerable sum from his judicious investments. Two days after bis arrival in Launceston Bdward took boat for Melbourne, and the following morning he was shaking hands with his friend. CHAPTER XXVIU. CHANOES. " I have something important to tell you, Trenoweth, or rou may depend 1 would not have sent for you. I would have gone across only tbat I could not well leave just at present," Barr said. Trenoweth wondered somewhat at the serious tone of the speaker, and asked if it was in reference to shares tbat be wished to speak. " No, it is not that. The fact is, I got a letter from St. Columb's Cove a couple of weeks ago. It was really intended for you, but the address indicated tbat it was for me, and I opened it." "Prom home?" Bdward eagerlyasked ; " I was wondering wby mother had not written. Is she well f " " Tes," Barr replied in a hesitating way ; "sha is well, Trenowetb, but she will never sea you again." •• What ?" " Bhe is dead, as you will sec," answered Barr. As he spoke be took a soiled letter out of his pocket and handed it to the young man. It was a fearful scrawl, and Trenoweth did not recognise the handwriting. Looking at the signature, which, like the body of the letter, was scarcely decipherable, he read: " John Pengelly." It was a brief, if labored, note, and was to the effect that Mrs. Trenoweth had died tbe previous June, somewhat suddenly. She had not recovered the shock that Ines Jasper's treachery had caused her, and the villagers could see that it made a deep impression on her. The last word she uttered waa her son's name, and old Pengelly took it upon himself to communicate the mournful news to Trenoweth. The little property was now, of course, Edward's, so the letter ran; and, pending bis instructions, it was being taken care of by Pengelly. This was a severe blow to Trenoweth. He had definitely made up his mind to pay a visit to St. Columb in a few weeks' time, but tbis intelligence quite upset his plans. His mother was well advanced in years, but sbe was strong and bealthy, he thought ; and the news was most unexpected. He had not taken into account the fact that three years' absence and the severe trials thai Mrs. Trenoweth bad experienced would necessarily bave an injurious effect on her constitution. Barr recognised his friend's distress with evident sympathy, and then broke tbe silence by saying : "What do you think it is best to do T Will you go home ?" " I don't think so. I can do no good now. My intention was to sail in a few weeks, but this alters everything. I am now alone in the world," answered the young man, mournfully. "That is so," assented Barr; "but yon most have expected this some day." "Yes, of course, some day, but not so MMU*

Tre^osrethj left; alone with his grief, be- - J£UA&i**At&&i?^£«?S-:ffl9*?'?^i ! -^t*;fechiß roipd..; >\ -. • ;•-,,'. ;■ ";};■; * A^'ASAfASi ' "He could not very well -make up his mind as to what he ;Bhould dp, but be knew that action would best -assist bim to forget his -;16SB. :i.A •'. : " - " : " .•'■■ ."' -"-'■ ' !../" j -" • At last an idea entered his beid. He would " -p'Syfa* Visit to Cape Barren Island and see ' "'hjf'bld^friends. . . ,y ■ j . --JPerhaps Nelly Ryan would be at home, : ;-and somehow tbat thought Rave him plea* ; : eureV"' ■ As he pondered, the thought of the treasure ship came, into bis mind. Chaileston had confided to him his idea of getting at the gold, and now such an undertaking, which promised* some excitement, would be a positive relief. He acquainted Barr witb his resolve, and the latter applauded the idea. " I wish T could accompany you," he said) " but that is impossible. " A week later Trenowetb went back to Launceston, where he soon picked up an old brass cannon, which was eaaiiy portable. He hired a small schooner to take him to Clarke Island, and when he arrived he found tbe place almoßt the same as at the time of his first visit. Charleston told him that the wreck of the Geilibrand was in tbe same position, as he bad seen it a week previously. He was delighted that Edward bad taken steps to test the plan of removing tbe wreck, for he felt sure that it would suoceed. As it was not considered dtsirable to take others into the secret, the schooner was dismissed as soon as the cannon and stores were landed. Edward had not forgotten bis friends on the island, and he bad brought quite a cargo of presents. Tlie following morning Charleston, Parsons, and three other half-castes in the employ of the former, accompanied by Trenowetb, set out for the headland in which the wreck lay. The journey was an arduous one, for they had to takeaioue with them the heavy sixpounder and a supply of balls and ammunU tion. As there was no hurry, easy stages were made, and it was nightfall before the huge mass of rocks was reached, A comfortable camp was formed, and at daylight next morning tbe severe work of taking tbe cannon to the edge of tho channel was commenced. The labvriiitbau passages through lhe honey-combed rocks were difficult enough to; unencumbered travellers, and Trenowetb soon found tbat the task the party had set themselves to accomplish was a most formidable one. It was noon before they reached the peculiar bridge of rocks which spanned the awful chasm already mentioned. Thiß, of oourße, was tbe crux of the whole passage. Once across there, the remainder of tht work would be comparatively easy. Ropeß had been taken along and elaborate precautions were taken to convey Che cannon aoross the slippery bridge. Trenoweth, Charleston and two ot the attendants crossed to the opposite side, the last man taking with him a rope wbich bad been attached to the cannon. Parsons and the third man remained behind to guide and steady the heavy piece of ordnance whilst the others pulled it across the bridge. The preparations were soon complete, and, exercising the utmost care, a start was made. Slowly the cannon was dragged inch by inch until past the centre of the natural bridge. Parsons and his man, on their bands and knees kept at either side of tho pieoe guiding it fairly in the centre. The passage was almost complete when the brass piece suddenly swerved as though on a pivot, and in an instant Parsons was: brushed off the rock as though he were a fl * ! A few half -stifled cries reverberated down ' amongst the rocks for a few seconds, and then a deathly silence reigned. The tragedy had not occupied half a minute, and it was not in human power to have saved the man once be fell. ; The half-caste on the rocky bridge was speechless with terror, and by mute signs he begged tbem to pull the cannon over so that, he might get away from bis perilous posi- ■ tion. j This was easily done, and when accom-; plished Bd ward leant over tbe side of the, chasm and called to Parsons loudly by] name. | There was no answering response, and il' was evident that the unfortunate man had ! met his death. j "It is impossible that he can be alive,''! Charleston said, at last. " That place must' be a hundred and fifty feet deep at the leash! I have tried it by dropping stones and tak-| ing the time they oocupied in reaobing the j water." " What is to be done ? Can we do nothing ?" asked Edward. «« We can do nothing for him," Charleston returned, pointing down the abyss ; " but, now that tbe cannon is over, we should go on witb the work we came for. Two lives bave been lost already over this business and we sbould see to it that ao others are sac< rificed. '' How oan we do that ?" the young man asked; "By getting the wreck entirely away. Tbat i 8 the best thing to do. It will bs no trouble now to get this to the channel," said Charleston. For several minutes tbe men lingered around the fatal spot, but at last, seeing the futility of staying longer, they lifted the heavy cannon and laboriously conveyed it slowly down tho sloping rock to tbe water's edge. They had a clear view of the wreck, which, apparently, had not altered in the least. lt was not more than one hundred yards distant,and it seemed an easy enough matter to break it up. Little difficulty was experienced in placing the weapon in position where it was secure and from which it could be fired without danger. Trenoweth was the first to take aim, but it was trained too high, and the ball Btruck tbe cliff several feet above the wreck. The noise made on firing was exti aordin« ary. The eohoes resounded from oliff to olifl and from cavern to cavern until it seemed sis if a broadside from a line-of battle ship bad been given. Charleston, who was the next lo lay tha gun, did not do much better than his friend, but Trenoweth's next attempt resulted as desired.— T# te Ctntimud WF lft .