THE GOLD-SEEKERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8585, 29 March 1906, Page 4

THE GOLD -SEEKERS.

A STORY OF NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA. . '■ (By KORATJ.) Author of "Kereama." "The Last Voyage of the Ohio/ "What's in a Name," etc. [All Rights Reserved.] BOOK I. Tmsuro Seeding ia How Zealand. CHAPTER 111. AVABtCE. The two gold seekers, too weary to make any kind of bed, stretched their tired limbs on the bare earth, and Jarman's deep breathing soon announced that he sept. Not so Alick; he turned reetlesly on the hard ground for an , hour or two before finally going off. He was too exhausted to sleep 6ound]j, and the suspicion that Peter Jar- • man was not to be trusted haunted him •von in his sleep. Waking with a cry, li« was not reassured) by the sight of Jarman's eyes fixed on him in a hard starts. ■ "Hullo! What are y«u up to?" he questioned, rising to his knees. yV ; "What' the devil is the matter with you, Alick? More bad dreams?" " Yes. Why did you look at me like thatP" "I was trying to make out what you wero chattering about- Come on; the •un will soon be up." . ." I don't feel well this morning. My back. is stiff, and' my joints aohe like ; anything." ;.■ "All right. : Lie where you are a 1 bit; I'll go on searching the river-bed." Alick soon went off to sleep again, and was waked two hours later by the •an shining full upon him. Feeling better, he walked down through the bush and watched Jarman, hard at ■work in the river. His companion, to judge by the heavy bag suspended from his shoulder, seemed to be finding plenty of gold. After their previous success, the man's intense eagerness " ipurpris.ed Alick. The keen, avaricious •expression that dominated his counten--lince produced in 'the young Scotchman • feeling of repulsion, and recalled the hostile look that had so startled him on awakening. But Aliok could not insist *he temptation to join in the absorbing quest for gold. •.v "You 6eem to be finding plenty, ,|3Tarman!" he cried, advancing from • *ibe bushes and stepping into the water. , t Jarman started; he was so absorbed in bis search that he had not seen SUitik. "I've hardly got an ounce," he replied, gruffly. ' : "But I saw you pocketing whole feandfuls." :.-l ," You're dreaming; that's all I've ! got." Jarman pointed to hie nearly «mp£y coat pocket, i " No ; not your pockets. I mean that great bag you had slung over . your shoulder." I " I've no b v ag; you're dreaming!' K replied Jarman, going on with his ' woric. 1 "I'm not dreaming. I saw you open tht> mouth and put in handful after handful. What have you done with itP" . •Peter made no reply; he continued to tPork as if he did not hear. "I must see that bag, Jarman," said Alick, wading through the water to wnere he stood. His temper was roused by the man's cool denials. ;'".. "Must!" snarled his mate. "None ©f your 'musts' with me! Keep to your own 6ide, and I'il keep to mine." Alick never paused. "Are you go ing to show me that bag, or are you not?" he demanded in. a slightly raised yoic«, as he> faced Jarman with flash- ,-- JBg «yes. For a moment a fight seemed imminent. Jarman surveyed his gaunt antagonist with a wicked look, but he quailed, before the steady gaze. * • "I was only trying to fool you," he .•aid, with a forced laugh. Reaching ' ■ gown into the water, he pulled the bag , ' fip from just behind him. ,' "Well, I don't like your fooling, so let's have no more of it. I have always treated you fair and openly; I •xpect the same in return. We'll put this on the bank, out of harm's way." Alick took the bag from him and stag.gored ashore. It was just as well for Alick that Jarman carried no weapon at that moment. The look of baffled rage and hatred that came into his face directly the young man's back was turned, indicated only too plainly the black thoughts in his heart. After this, the two worked together without exchanging a word, and Alick soon forgot his indignation in the absorbing occupation. As they neared the lower end of the bend, he came to a large boulder, just showing above the surface, and, guided by former experience, he thrust his hand under the stone upon the lower side. Hs grasped what seemed to be pebbles, and was about to throw them away when* he perceived their great weight. "By George! Look here. Jarman! A whole fist-lull of nuggets ! " Peter gazed with greedy eyes at the wonderful nnd^j but he answered noth- , >ng. ••■■■■. " Fetch the empty bully tine— we'll put them straight in." Jarman wanted no second bidding, and filled six before the treasure trove was exhausted. ■' "I thought I could never tire of picking up gold," said Alick', drawing a long breath; "but I've had about enough of it. I'd gladly swop one of these tins filled with nuggets for one filled with beef. "I'm going back to rthe whare to look out for, Donald— s you'd better come too." ■ ■ \ < .."No! I shall plant all this gold •afe out of sight, and then keep guard over it." "AH right ; stop if you please. But I dort't understand how jou keep it .dp— l'm done." \ Alick toiled painfully up the track iwhich led to the whare. xj "What an avaricious brute he- is. 1 ' , rpiutfcered the young Scotchman,- as he vJfcrudged painfully up the steep path. /?' l'm sure he's up to some mischief. rfiince the row, he has never looked me •jn the face. I wish Donald were back, ao that we could have a settling ' up and dissolve partnership. I wonder V bow Jarman keeps up his strength ? yP'r'aps he has a hidden store of food. "X shouldn't be surprised; he looks ''mean enough for anything; but he ' seems to forget j if it hadn't been for me, we should still be poor men. There

must be £50,000 now. What a surprise for Donald!" At length the hut came in sight. It stood on the edge of a glade, shaded by an ancient birch tree, .the patriarch of the dark forest that enclosed the small clearing on three "sides. It was a rude structure, with sod walls, earthern floor, roof of thatched bulrushes, & wide bush chimney facing the door j and in the side wall a small window. Dragging his weary limbs through the entrance, he threw himself into his bunk, and was soon asleep. He had not slept long, however, when the dreadful gnawings of hunger awoke him, and he was fain to sally forth and dig a supply of fern-root, which he made more palatable by roasting over a fire. There was no sign of Donald, though the eight days were more than passed. ■ "I'll set out for the coach road tomorrow and send a letter to him by the first traveller who passes. I expect Donald has had trouble in getting the goods together and hiring horses without attracting attention," thought Alick, as he got out pencil and paper. He first described their wonderful success in diverting the Waiope and draining the river-bed, the immense quantity of gold that had rewarded their Herculean labours, and Jarman's plan of burying it safely out of sight. Then he told of his nearly famished condition. But he dwelt longest on Peter's strange conduct, the quarrel, his underhand behaviour, and hi 3 own suspicions that Jarman had a private hoard of food. This letter he addressed to his brother at the Nelson Bank, and had just placed it in his coat pocket when he saw Jarman approaching by the track from Deep Creek. "1 thought you were going to mount guard over the gold?" no asked, surprised at his unlooked-for arrival. '• . "No; it's all buried safe but of sight, ; answered^ Jarman. Ho stood hesitating at the threshold, seemed to change his mind about entering the hut, and fidgeted with his boots, as if undecided what to do next. " Have you been -out after pig?". "No; I'm as woak as a rat. I couldn't catch Piri-piri to save my life." -"I don't see what good it does, lying in your bunk/ said Jarman, sourly. "I tell you, man, I haven't the strength to go hunting. There's nothing for it but to keep our bodies and souls 'together with fern-root till Donald comes back; he may -be here any minute." " You mark my words. Donald is having a good time in Neleon. He wont- bother about us," said Jarman, standing in the doorway,' but never looking Alick in the face. , "He said he would corno straight' back." ." Yes— he meant to when ho went away, but you know what Donald is when he gets a taste- of whisky, he won't leave* it until every grain of gold is gonje. No chance of his starting back till his pockets are empty. I knew what it would be when you insisted on giving him such a lot of the gold. And unless he gets our supplies on tick, ho'll bring very little back with "him." ■ . ■ "That's not true. Donald's not that sort. He'll keep his word, never fear." "Keep his word! He's broken it already — he promised to be back two days ago. What are we to do meanwhile? We can't keep alive on fernroot alone ! I see nothing for it but bush pig. Surely you have strength to beat the bushes while I carry the gun?" "You shoot! I don't believe you know how to hold a gun." "I can shoot a pig when we're starving. Come on ! It's past mid-day, we've no time to lose." " What makes you so anxious to go pig hunting? Four days ago, when I had the strength and wanted to go, you ' refused." " I always expected Donald would have been back before this. Now it's a case of necessity." Alick could not catch Jarman's eye, but he saw him looking furtively at the gun which hung above his bunk. The man's whole manner made him sus- | picioiis. Peter had always' left, tbo hunting to Alick- and Donald~p indeed, he had never even accompanied the brothers on their shooting expeditions for Piri-piri. Alick, therefore, felt sure Jarman meditated foul y pla> when 'he made this unusual proposal. Once on the bush-clad slopes of the mountain, he would be at Jarman's mwcy. His dead body might lie among the moss-grown trunks that choked the gullies for centuries without being found. r - ; • • "We couldn't live on fern-root. White men are not like Maoris, they must have meat." "But I couldn't walk a mile, much less climb a mountain." I "Well, hand down the gun — I'll go alone." "I'd rather wait till to-morrow. Besides, you're not accustomed to firearms, you might damage it, or do yourself an injury." "Don't talk such rot I I'm not a baby." , ' "There's no tearing, hurry. Leave it till the morning. I might be able to go with you after a good night's sleep." Alick did not like Jarman's persistence ; he- was now determined he should not have possession of the gun. "You seem to think no one can use .» gun but yourself. What's the good of my loafing all the afternoon, just because you're too lazy or too eick to get up? There ar© plenty of pigs about — I can see where they have been rooting up the fern." "Piajs! What do you know about pigs? That' 8 where I was digging this morning. By George! it took me all my time to grub up a bucketful. I don't know how you keep up your strength." . "I see nothing wonderful about that. You must be soft to knock up so easily." " Nobody ever called me soft before. It's this starvation that' 6 knocked 1 me out. I've not had a good square meal for three months. I believe you have a private stock of your own. No man could keep up his strength on my share." "How could I? Where could I get it from? All our tucker came from old Philpott, and you 6aw me whack it. out even every morning." "1, don't know how you do it; but I'll swear you couldn't keep up your strength on what I : ve had since Donald left." Jarman matte no reply. Ho fidgefc-

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Ed about the hut for some minutes, and then left abruptly. Directly he was gone, Alick, who feared that Jarman might gain possession of the gun while he slept, took the precaution of removing both caps.' ' " I don't half , like the look of Jarman," he muttered, as he turned over into a more comfortable position. "Why was he' so persistent about the gun? And why did he never look me in the face? If he wasn't such a coward, I should be afraid of his making me a prisoner . in the whare and clearing out with the gold. He might get right away before Donald comes back." I The afterncon wore on. iTho 6un's slanting beams tipped the thatched roof with gold and dyed the western 6ky a deep crimson. The black birches appeared darker and more funereal than ever when contrasted with the naming sky that deepened to a bloodred where seen between the boughs low down on the horizon. An ominous silence "reigned over the solitary hut. The smokeless chimney and half-open door gave it a forlorn, deserted aspect. A tiny piwaka perched on the rim of a tin basin that had been ingeniously set on three . divergent branches of a manuka bush. From the confident manner in which he dipped his beak into the water, raised Jiis feathered throat, down which the liquid trickled with visible undulations, pursued a 'fly into the very doorway, and flirted his fanjjke tail from side to side, as he darted- suiter the nimble prey > no one would have supposed the building tenanted. ■;■ As the evening closed in, 1 the shadow of a man crept aoross the door. So slowly did it advance that a casual observer might have mistaken it for the ordinary shades of night stealing over the sky. It did not even drive away the inquisitive fantail. Alick 6lept peacefully Irl his bunk, unconscious of the dark shape, that approached so noiselessly. A hand appeared on the door frame, followed soon by the stealthy, wicked face of Jarman. . .He peered cautiously through the crack before advancing into the room, his ears strained to catch the slightest sound. Some moments his wollish eyes rested on Alick's face, with so intent and burning a look that it seemed to- disturb the sleeper, for } le began to stir uneasily. : Jarman crouched down> and waited until the steady breathing announced . tha^t Alick was again fast asleep. Once more the coward z-ose to his feet, and stretched his. hand stealthily towards the gun which 'rested on tw« nails above the bunk,' his eyes fixed on the peaceful face in a hostile glare. The weapon was reached and lifted without a sound. With devilish pre-. caution Jarman withdrew the ramrod

and inserted it down each barrel, a gleam of satisfaction announcing that he found them loaded. He put his thumb upon the hammers to draw them back, but on 6econd thoughts he paused, fearing that the click might awaken his victim. After a moment's reflection ho raised the gun to his shoulder and pointed it straight at the sleeping mans temple. A quick double click announced that he had it cocked, all ready to fire. Alick never stirred, but Jarman, determined to run no risks, examined the nipples— -there wero no caps! A malignant look of disappointment darkened his face. He glanced at the unconscious sleeper, the look of baffled rage giving place to one of hostile determination, that boded ill for Alick Fletcher. With the same deliberate caution he replaced the gun and stole out, reappearing in a few minutes with a heavy stiok. Standing over the sleeper, he raised the cudgel hesitatingly. A fear seized him that he might mies his aim, or not strike hard enough. His breath came thick, the uplifted bludgeon wavered, beads of sweat hung upon his forehead. In vain did he try to accomplish the fell >deed ; he quailed before Alick's eyes, even when closed. At tnis moment the sleeper moved and stretched himself. Instantly Jarman stooped down, until he was below the level of the bunk, and waited until all was quiet. The fantail's curiosity seemed to increase, it fluttered round the very portal, accompanying each advance with an impatient twitter. Jarman slipped out, and struck savagely at it with Kis bludgeon. He feared its restless chirp might awaken his victim. Tnen, like an avenging fiend, he reentered, but this time every, trace of indecision was gone from hie cruel face. Alick had turned in his sleep, and now lay with his head averted. With measured calculation the heavy cudgel wasraised on high, held' perfectly still for one brief moment, and then brought down with resistless force. The sleeper never moved. No outcry followed the crushing blow; a slight quiver of the blankets was the only .sign of that strong young life having departed for ever. Jarman had no need to sErike twice ; hate and avarice had nerved his muscular arm too surely to leave any doubt as to the result of that merciless blow. Putting down his bludgeon carefully, , and treading on tip-toe, as if he still' feared to roue© the inert form, he stole from the hut x peered along the path by which he knew Donald must approach, and listened for the least sound of his coming. Save for the chattering piwaka which followed him like an avenging spirit, all was still and silent as the grave. Reluctantly he rerentered the hut, evidently forcing himself to carry out a task much against his inclination. He stood hesitating for fully a minute with his back to the bunk. Then, with a muttered curse, he turned quickly round, seized the still warm body by its shrunken middle, and lifted it towards the door. The shattered head fell forward against his bare hands. With a hoa-rse cry, Jarman dropped his horrid burden, rushed out, and held' his bloody hands up before him. Again mastering his overpowering terror, he seized the body by its ankles and dragged it from the hut. " Damn that infernal bird !" he muttered, as the piwaka fluttered round his bare head, raising its feeble pipe to a soream. Neither ' oaths nor stioks could drive it off ; it followed the murderer persistently, as if bent on proclaiming his crime to all the world. , CHAPTER IV. . Atf UNWELCOME GTTEST AT KOROMIKO. Ethel Hartland stood by the kitchen table, washing up the tea things. She 'hummed to herself the flowing melody of a popular waltz; interrupted her work on reaching a favourite passage in the tune to take a few sliding steps across the floor, holding before her, as if it wero a partner, the dish she dried, and stopped occasionally to listen to the rain \vhich drummed softly on the shingles. Her golden hair straggled over a forehead a little too high for the Greek type of feminine beauty. Her mouth, when not curved in a smile (its habitual one in company, especially *male company), was a trifle large, and the lips , inclined to fullness. But the sweet blue eyes, framed in dark lashes, the well-marked, slightly curved brows, of a browner tinge than the hair, and the clear, rosy complexion, diverted the beholder's attention from these slight defects, and presented to his eyes the picture of a very pretty girl. Finishing the tea things, and putting them away, Ethel sat by the fire with a copy of the " Queen " newspaper on her knee, opened at the fashion plates, which ©he studied with wistful attention, v. Presently she was interrupted by the entrance of her brother, a little boy of eight. " Ethel, there's somebody out by the shed." " I've not heard anyone, Bobby," re-