THREE PICKHEADS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 49

THREE PICKHEADS.

A TALE OF GOLD-HUKTINGU

By Victor Zeai».

T was on the goldfieldß, and starving. My last shilling bad gone to buy yesterday's* dinner, my last sixpence to get a fill of tobaocoi Two months ago I bad pegged out my claim, and had worked like a slave at it ever Bince, and it was not until three days back that I realised that the treacherous reef which was showing good gold on either side of me bad by some impish 'meanß twisted itself out of my olaim altogether. ' Hoping against hope, I had worked bravely tn for those three days, but without getting so much as a " colour," and at ' last was forced to admit that my labour had been all in vain. I crept Into my tent, and flinging myself on the bunk drew the blankets over my head,, and, like the Isralite king of old who could cot get what he wanted, turned my face to the wall and groaned in despair. Some one shook me rather roughly. " Get up, man, and see what has been turned up on the very edge of your claim 1 The men,are going wild about ib. Rouse yourself and come." I sprang from the bunk in great excitement, forgetting my hunger and my empty tobacco pouch, for the words "on "the very edge of your claim," sounded like good tidings indeed to me. r Outside there was a great crowd of men surging round one spot on the ground near my tent, talking loudly and excitedly. One, seeing me, called out, " Your fortune's made, man 1 Come and look'at this." I rushed over, and my eagc-r, covetous eyes fell on a great jotting piece of reef of almost pure gold, and only a few feet from the lefthand corner of my claim. I say my eyes were covetous because in very truth the tenth commandment did not exist for me in that hour. I felt in my heart that the golden treasure had done me a personal injury in not running into my claim also, and I unjußtly felt that I had a perfect right to a share of the good fortune of those men. The men around ub were all laughing and shouting with joy, but I could not see why they need make such a f ass over other men's good luok. I tried to stop the beating of my heart, when a man slapped me on the shoulder, saying: " What in .thunder are you looking so blue about 7 Your turn will come next ; the reef has run down in your olaim." By " run down " I suppose he meant the ieef had gone deeper than I had been digging ; but I didn't believe him. I wanted the gold that lay shining at my feet, let those who would take the chance of what was hidden deep in my claim. It was a summer evening, and a cool breeze blew across the hills behind which the sun was Blowly sinking. I turned away from the joyful- group, and began walking up and down excitedly. . My hands were clasped behind my back, and my face felt cold as ice, " I say, pard," called out a good-natured fellow from the door of his tent, " come in and have a bit of supper with me. I see you're thinking so much of the -fortune in your ground that you've forgotten to eat." I could not refuse, for I bad not tasted food for 30 hours ; so thanking him, I made a good meal, also accepted a plug of tobacco with which to fill the empty pipe I had been holding between my teeth when I entered his tent. "Them's lucky men," -said the digger leaning against the tent-pole, and seemingly counting the , rings of smoke that curled away from bis pipe. II Yeß, indeed," I answered hotly. •' Why should they be so lucky, and I in a state of starvation 2 It's neither fair nor right." "Are things so low as that with you?" asked the man, sitting up straight now and looking et me keenly. "Then I advise "you to go to bed- and think about nothing." " I'll think about what I please," I replied, flinging myself out o* the tent and resuming my interrupted walk. I dug my hands into my empty pockets. How was I to live to-morrow, and the next day, and the next 2 It was no use .digging any more) for I might drop d£ad over the shovel from sheer weakness before I could get enough gold to buy me a crust of .bread. Looking up, I found I bad almost run -against my lucky neighbours' tent. Darkless was covering the earth and lights twinkled here and there aoross the goldfield. I crouched at the baok of the tent and peeped through a jagged fray in the calico. The men were seated on the floor, and be- ' tween them lay the lumps of wealth, which ought to have been mine. "Don't you think we ought to hide it," said one to the other. " Hide it 7No 1 All the men' are as honest as the day, and all are getting gold except the poor beggar next us. I'll' just put it in this bag under my pillow." " Well, as you please ; but I'd rather not be in your place supposing a thief did; come in. Good-night." "Good-night." said the other. "Tomorrow we'll double this, I hope." They rolled themselves in their blankets and in two minutes were snoring. I crept round and entered the tent. What I had come to do I must do boldly. With stealthy footsteps I neared the bunk. The man's bead had fallen off the pillow and was hanging over the side of the bed ; his mouth was open. Quietly I lifted the heavy bag and darted from the the tent like, what I truly was, a thief in the night. Oh ! what a weight was that bag, and how beavy were my feet. I seemed to be running . ■ with slow-dragging steps, instead of like the wind as I wished to. Hark 1 There is a great cry in the distance. The gold has been missed, and they are after he. Can I ever go fast enough 7 I hear call {answering call, and the sound of many feet stampeding here, there, everywhere. I run on ; I stumble and fall ; up again, still clutching the bag of gold— l race Into the darkness for my life. laey&re aftac me— after me; newer and

nearer they come. O ! human hounds, oan I ever escape you 2 The great forest looms in the near distance. Once there, I may be able to dodge them. "' Stopl stop!" I hear them cry, but I only go faster, Why are my feet so heavy ?— oh why 2 I trip over a log. At last lam near the forest, but my pursuers are close— so close. The giant trees seem to bend forward to meet me, to hide me in their arms. I give one last bound and sink on the ground amongst the fern behind a great clump of bush lawyers. I am safe for a time, at least. ' t " Come out of tLis, you crawling hound I " cries a voice above me, while a strong hand catches me by the collar. " Did you think you could get safely away from me— from me ? We'll teach you to steal gold, that we will." He dragged me to my feet, and to my surprise did. not knock me down again. The full moon had arisen and flooded the forest with" radiant light. A crowd of diggers had come running up and surrounded us. " Let us take the gold and set the starving beggar free," said the man who had given me a supper. " We'll see if the gold Is all right first," eaid the owner. " You stand back, thief 1 " I stood baok wailing for mydoom, while the bag was emptied. An exclamation of astonishment burst from the men as the contents of the bag were tipped out on the ground, and then a great roar of laughter, which was repeated again and again. " Just look what he has run away with — three pickheads l— no,t goldatalL Ha! ha"! ha I" " Fred, Fred I rouse up, my boy ; the sun has been streaming over your face for hours." I started up, looking wildly round me. " Where am 1 1 In my tent safe and sound 1 Well, Jim, I'm glad you woke me, even if it iB for another day of dreary work, for I've just had a bsaßtly dream about our next-door neighbours." " Ob, you're too fond of dreaming," said Jim ; but I've got some news that will stop your dreams for a while. A rich reef has been struck, and it leads straight through the corner of yonr olaim." * • True enough. In three months' time I was a rich man, and since then many a laugh have I had about my dream, and being so nearly convicted of stealing— three pickheads.