AN INVOLUNTARY VOYAGE.

Western Star, Issue 89, 24 July 1875, Page 3

AN INVOLUNTARY VOYAGE.

[From the Ballarat correspondent of the Pleasant Creek News.]

The absence of two well-known citizens of Ballarat from their usual haunts, has been somewhat freely commented on during the past ten days. Both are jolly good follows, and well-to-do, and therefore the matter of their proceeding to. Melbourne about a fortnight since, forth e purpose of saying good-bye to an old; friend sailing for a North American port,, was considered by . their numerous acquaintances as being quite the thing,, and by no means a subject calling for other than mere passing comment; but at length, when it became known that good-bye had. been said, and the usual “ porter, and.oysters ” had been duly dis-. cussed, the departing friends some hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from tbo Victorian shores, and the objects of the little trip to the seaside accomplished, the question was asked why do not the Ballarat friends return to their homes or write to their wives. However, , I am glad to state all is well or promises to be well in the matter, as the following- J incident of domestic drama will explain : —Scene,. noon. ' Two ships are sec isf*i n 1-c proximity to each other. The “bluiu.--peter” is at the petfk ofAeaclg-aud' hissing puffiifg steam,.and.hurrying men,., women, and childrotr proclaim the twoboats are outward bound, and that the departure is. close at hand,. Scone changes, and the railway refresh- , ment-rooms at the pier open to view. Three-gentlemen enter, one carrying a travelling bag. Opening chorus —“ Should, old acquaintance,” &c. Wine is quaffed,. then whisky; chorus follows. Bell rings,, official appears. “ Now then, Sydney just off.” Gentleman with travelling- . bag rushes out furiously; two friends linger. “ Just one more, Mac —a shilling each and the winner shouts/.’ The“bones” are rattfed, and the waiter passes the whisky. Bell rings again,. Invisible chorus— “ She’s off, she’s off.” Again scone changes. The pier again—one steamer only alongside ; a second steamer seen far in the distance—almost, hull down, to use a nautical phrase. The two gentlemen run,.rush, jump, gain the steamer’s deck, and dive into cabin. Captain on the bridge tinkles little bell,. . screw revolves, steamer leaves pier and"; rapidly sails down the bay. Dice-box heard rattling iiycabiu., Calls for steward proceed from same quarter, as Cellibrand’s light-ship is passed. Two gentlemen appear on deck wearing anxious faces. Encounter officer in charge of deck. “Is Mr So-and-So in saloon or steerage ?” Officer doesn’t know -.doesn’t think he’s on board at all, but will trouble the gentlemen for their passage-money. “ Oli! wo are not going to Syduej'’.”" Officer laughs, replies that he doesa’fc know why they arc in that ship, “ But,” inquires one gentleman, “ we can got out at Queenscliffo ?.’ Officer explains: will be quite dark when Heads , are . reached, and not slightest chance of ship stoppingthere a second ; the gentlemen must go on now with the vessel. “ Where to F” Officer laughs;Bound to New Zealand; make the Bluff in about five days.” Two ■ geutlemou collapse, and symptoms of sea sickness manifest themselves in decidedly unpleasant manner, as Queensclific lights, dip far astern,.and: the long ocean swell of Bass’s Strait clears the deck of Noptuue’a, victims. It will be perhaps gathered from the foregoing that the two Ballarat jolly good fellows missed tho departing friend, find, the Sydney steamer, which did stop at Queeuscliffo on font--. Bylins time they are doubtless gaining-"‘first’ impressions' of moas,. Maoris, atfiTmountains of New Zealand,, wiser, i£#iofc perchance sadder, men..