NEW ZEALAND STORIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 8, 19 February 1913, Page 55

NEW ZEALAND STORIES.

The Editor desires to state that New Zealand Stories 6y New Zealand writers are published on this page regularly. The page is open to any contributor, and all accepted stories will be paid for at current rates. Terse bright sketches of Dominion life and people, woven in short story form, are required,, and should be headed “New Zealand Stories.'’ Stamps for return of US. must be enclosed

Under Escort.

BJ

L. M. EASTGATE, Auckland.

TONY LEE rode out of the little township of Dunedin at sunrise one morning, bound for the Hindon goldfield on the West Taieri Plain. The output of gold at Hindoo—which was not nearly as rich a field as Dunstan, and one os two others in Otago —had lessened, and the Dunedin bank had closed the branch at the diggings, and now sent an agent out every week to buy the gold and take it in. Tony Lee, keen and trusty, Was the man. There was risk in the work, for pait of the route was a lonely horse-track—a Short-Cut to Hindoo. The wagons which brought out stores made a very much longer journey to get an easier gradient. It was rough travelling, and in the winter the country was almost impassable, and the drivers of a long line of wagons would have to take the teams of three to get each wagon through a bad bit of road, the trip sometimes taking a w !; or two, particularly to Dunstan—-the g goldfield beyond the West Taieri. e ride to Hindon and back was a twodays’ trip for most men, but Tony did it in'one, for he was in love, and someone watched for him o’ nights, and he, a bit of a daredevil, cared nothing for the risk entailed by riding alone through desolate country with the light failing and somewhere about eight hundred pounds worth bf gold dust in the pigskin bag across his saddle. His revolver was a ready weapon in his hand, and his liorse, Toni, was a powerful, sagacious animal that had done his master yeoman service on many a rough, risky ride. , -t This morning they rode gaily, for, the early sunlight was brightening housetops and fields, and the keen sparkling air made their blood dance. Near Caversham Tony met Inspector Brady, who was in command of the Otago district.’ "Where are you off to, youngster?” he inquired good-humouredly, pulling up his horse.

A glint of amusement came into Tony.’s eyes, for he knew’ what would follow. “To bring in the gold from Hindon,” he replied, cheerfully. The big Inspector looked him over disapprovingly. "What about the escort? I told you last week you could have one. and that it is advisable.” “I don’t think it is necessary,” he said. "It’s- not a big enough job for two men.’ Brady growled. "You’ll find it's too big for one before you are done with it, and when you do you’ll lose more than the gold probably.” “I sha’n’t lose the gold,” returned Tony, glancing at his revolver. “ ‘He who fights and runs away,’ you know—Tom can show a clean pair of heels to any liorse they’ve got up there.” Brady gave the big, powerful animal a Keen, appreciative glance. "He’ll good if he gets a show,” he admitted, "but he could stop a bullet from behind Big Rock as well as you.” “I’ll wager you don't ride on ’ifs’ yourself, Inspector,” said Tony with a twinkle in his eye, for Brady was a man of fearless courage. “I don't carry gold through such Codforsaken country as there is up yonder,” eaid Brady grimly. “There are men loose up there who have come with the rest of the crowd after gold, but they don't mean to dig for it. If 1 get'a chance I’ll clear them out, but they’re loose at present, and anyone who comes up against them won't find it play.” * * Tony looked imperturbable as he lit his pipe and gathered up the reins. “In that case, man. .I'd lock them up as speedily as possible for the sake of the settlement. The ‘ungodly tide of iniquity’ which has swept in to the goldfields has upset the ‘ldentity* quite

enough without highwaymen being left loose. Put them out of harm’s way, Inspector—that's what you’re here for,” and, to escape further remonstrances, he touched Tom, and, with a laugh and a nod, departed at a gallop. "

Beyond Caversham he rode through a smiling country where farms and homesteads had transformed land which had no natural beauty, giving it an aspect of comfort and plenty where it had been barren and cold. Through Green Island —which was the whimsical name given to this farming district, which was certainly green, but not an island—Tony rode past Silver Stream, and then out on the bleak Taieri Plain. For a few miles he followed the road leading West, then turned into a horse-track through rough, hilly country.

It was a desolate scene, without tree or shrub to break the monotony, hill and plain alike being clothed with pale, brown tussocky grass, through which the wind sounded a melancholy note, giving voice to the ineffable loneliness of the scene, and grey rocks, fantastic in shape, gave added grimness. The silence, save for the wind among the tussocks, was profound in this stern, dreary land which needed a stern race to inhabit and wrest a living from it. The fact that thousands of men had made their way into the interior of Otago was due solely to the mad rush to the new goldfields. Men, crazy with gold fever, poured into the place by the English liners which were put on from Melbourne to cope with the

demand. They came to the little settlement at the rate of thousands every week, and the sober Scotchmen who had founded the province, and who looked with disapproving eyes at any man settling there who was not of their own nationality were aghast at what had befallen them—their cherished decani of a Scottish town for Scotchmen was wrecked. So dear was it to them that they had, in the early days before the discovery of gold, offered to pay the return passages of the first English people who arrived in the place if they would return whence they came or go anywhere but stay in the sacred precincts of the new Edinburgh. Alas! gold was discovered, and the Scotch settlement was engulfed. In vain did its venerable pioneer minister pray at public worship on the Sabbath that "this ungodly tide of iniquity might be stopped.”

The gold-seekers heeded not the rigour of country, climate or people, and in their delirium swept on—many to perish in a bitter winter on their way to the goldfields—some by a strange irony of Fate freezing to death over the rich, but as yet undiscovered coalfields beneath their feet. The timberless country afforded no firing, and fuel of any description was eagerly gathered, and when the billy had been boiled the sticks were carefully laid aside until the next time a meal was prepared. Fire for warfilth was an impossible luxury; and with food at famine prices, owing to the cost of

transit, the life in the diggings entailed the greatest hardship and privation. Tony had reached Hindon, and after attending to various matters —Tom amongst them—was walking through the camp. A lit fie way ahead a man crossed his line of vision and disappeared into a tent. Tony stopped short —he had no idea that Hick Ellis was in Otago, but he could never be mistaken in him—the man he had eompanied with in closest friendship for years in Australian wilds and cities. Then Tony hail been recalled to hits’ mothers deathbed while Dick- had gone off on a restless search for something new- and so their ways parted. But the bond between them was too strong to break, and Tony, with an exclamation of unfeigned pleasure, made a dash for the man and the tent. He had his back to the flap as Tony entered, anc turned quickly with a scowl on his face which changed as he stared and stared. "Dick!” Tory was at his e side, one hand on his shoulder, the other gripping his. “What luck to have knocked up against you!” The other man’s face flashed into as keen pleasure. “Why, Tony, boy. where on earth have you sprung from?” hr the times when they had shared bread and shelter together. Tony had always been “boy” to the older, harder man.

"From Dunedin, this morning. I am up here pretty often. You don’t mean to tell me that you have been here and I didn’t know it? How long?” The other man’s face suddenly altered, "Not very long.” he said, shortly.

‘.‘l suppose you expect to dig up a fortune,” went on Tony gaily, "but haven’t you tried the big fields—Dunstan, et-e.? Have you had any luck, anyway?”

"No,” said Dick slowly. "I have had no luck," and suddenly, in some inexplicable way Tony felt it impossible, to continue the subject. It was as though a hand bad been put out to cheek him. It was then he realised that he had been conscious through all his gladness of a change in his old chum. Something w r as missing from his face and voice that had been part of himself when Tony had last known him.

“It takes a jolly lot of luck, anyway, to make life on these goldfields worth while,” Tony went on cheerfully after a moment, watching Dick with keen affection. "If you’ve had no luck, old chap, chuck it up and come back with’ me. I can get you a job down in Dunedin.”

- "I am afraid the Pilgrim Fathers down there wouldn't have me without the tes-

timonial of character that I haven't got,” answered Dick with a bitter sneer. Tony’s brows drew together. "Don’t,” he said sharply. "What the deuce is wrong, Dick?” Dick laughed shortly as he replied, “I don’t know, or how we hare got on this ground before we’ve exchanged a dozen lentences. 1 think it’s your fault for starting to worry over my welfare almost as soon as you saw me. It’s an old trick of yours, Tony.” “One I sha’n’t easily cure myself of,” .was the cool reply, "but you are sidetracking. Why shouldn’t you get work .Where it is to be had if you Want it?” There was a weary recklessness in the pther’s voice as lie replied, "I think I’m talking rot, but, anyway, Tony, I’m not fitted for everyday life in Dunedin." “You’d find it fitted you better than life up here,” was the quick retort. “You fire much better out of this.” Dick wheeled quickly. “What do you mean?” he asked in a hard voice. Tony did not look at him as he said quietly, “I’ve only heard of you once since the old da vs, Dick.” ‘‘Well?” “It was from a man named Michael Lorrigan.” Silence for some minutes, broken by Dick’s bitter, reckless laugh. “So you know what a scoundrel I am?” “Cut that,” said Tony, roughly, “You needn’t mock at it to me.” There was pain beneath the impatience, and the other man knew' it, or he would not have stood the tone. It hurt him, top, but face and voice were hard as he Said: “It’s no use to go on with this. Let it rest, Tony. I’m best where I am.” “I won’t,” said the other doggedly. “You are just letting yourself go ” lie turned with a quick gesture. “Come down with me to-night. There’s plenty of room for us both in my quarters—it would lie like the old days.” His face lit up. “By Jove! how jolly it would be. You’ll come, won’t you, Dick?”

The other man’s face softened, the darkness on it breaking as he watched and listened, but he shook his head. “It won’t do, Tony,” he said, half wistfully. “The old days can’t come again. You’ve got other friends now.” “Any of them who wanted to block me in that could go,” was the quick reply. “The only one who matters is the girl I am going to marry, and she”—ho paused for a moment, and a light came Over his face—“she stands for whatever I do, and she would soon welcome you for your own sake, Dick.” The desire in his voice was intense and hard to resist, for the old bond tugged strongly at Dick’s heartstrings. It was the same Tony who had shared all things with him, from thoughts to bread. Without answering he went to the flap of the tent and stood looking over the camp end beyond. Scrubless, treeless, the Taieri fiats lay bare and eold, the monotony unbroken except for the diggings—a few rough wooden buildings and scores of dirty looking tents pitched here, there, stnd everywhere. No thought for anything ’but the bare necessities of existence in an inhospitable land was possible while mon thirsted and strove for gold. Home seemed a far-away illusion in this place of torn earth and wretched dwellings, where a fire was such a luxury that It mu«t be only alight when absolutely necessary, where everything good and sweet and wholesome seemed out of Teach. Away down among the hills there were homes a sudden vision came to Dick of the Ted firelight from big manuka logs bn bright, open hearths—of the good women who were part of fhe light and warmth.' of the sweet, merry children, of it all, and of this at its best, which was work and eold discomfort; its worst, •which was his life, and his soul sickened while yet he realised that he must reap liis own sowing, and faced the fact with the dogged pluck that, with all his sins, never failed him. Then l e heard Tony speaking, “ Bitch it up, Dick, (let your horse ami swag while I go down to Everton’s for the gold; meet me there, and well be at home to-night.” Dick swung round suddenly. “What gold?” he asked sharply. Tony looked at him in surprise. “The gold I take down to the bank—oh, didn't I tell yon what brings, me up here? 1 buy the dust for the bank and take it down.” Dick was standing with Ism back to the light, but his face looked curiously haggard, and his voice was strained as he asked, “Under escort, of course?” Tony laughed. “ Don't,” be said, - U**t Is the point at issue between the Inspector of Doties sod tuyself. Uo is quite

certain that I shall be stuck up, robbed, and murdered, because 1 won’t have an escort.” “ It's sheer madness," Dick broke out in sudden anger. “ You've no right to do it.” “Well, if you come along. I shall have one to-night.” Dick stared at him with a sudden horror in his eyes. “If 1 come along—what do you mean?” “ Why, what we’ve been talking about; that you should come down and put up with me.” With an effort Dick seemed to pull himself together. “ Yes, of course,” he said quietly. “I had forgotten for a moment.” He stood for a moment with narrowed eyes thinking deeply, then looked up. “ Will you stay here to-night, Tony. 1 might go down with you to-morrow it you wait.” Keen disappointment swept over Tony’s face. “ I can’t do that, even for vou, Dick.” “Why not?” The question was sharp and anxious. “ I promised someone that I would be with her to-night, and if I'm not she’ll be certain that I've been stuck up.” He said it with a laugh, as at some unlikely event, and Dick winced. He knew Tony too well to try and persuade him to break his word and said quietly: “In that case I suppose you must go.” “ T es, but if you could come to-mor-low, Dick, why not fo-day? It wouldn’t take long to settle up this establishment,” with a glance round the tent. Dick was thinking deeply, and made no reply, and Tony watched him, baffled and worried by something intangible in his manner. Presently he looked up, face and voice cool and resolute. “ I can’t tell you for an hour or two, Tony, whether I can clear out of this. I must see some fellows I’ve —worked with. It would make you too late to wait on the chance. If I can, I’ll eatch you up. Will that do?”

It was Dick’s old smile—the first Tony had seen since their meeting. His own face brightened as he answered: “It will have to. I wish we could have ridden all the way together, but you’ll follow for sure, won’t you?” Dick’s eyes met his steadily. “ No, not fpr sure; but I expect I shall come after.” He held out his hand. “ Whatever happens, it’s good to have seen you again, Tony.” Again Tony had a baffled sense of being in the dark, and a thought struck him. “ Look here, Dick, if you want some money to settle up with those fellows ” Dick’s brows drew together, but the grip of his hand and the look in his eyes as they rested on Tony's face belied the rough words as he said, “ Shut up, and mind your own business. Clear out now. The earlier you cross Mullocky Gully the better—you have to do that on foot.” “ I wish I could wait for you,” said Tony uneasily’. “Well, you -can’t; now clear out, or neither of us will get through.” It was the old Dick, who had always taken the lead, and Tony fell iuto line as naturally as in former days, knowing that when Dick spoke like that talk was over, so with a parting word he went his way. Dick watched him go, then made his own way to a tent near by. It was empty, and he swore softly to himself when he discovered the fact. He wanted the man he had hoped to find there urgently, and immediately set out to find him. He was hampered in his search, for he carefully avoided that part of the camp where Tony was likely to be until he left, and again there were reasons why it was inadvisable to inquire too openly for Michael Green. When at last he found him the evening was 'awing near, and Dick’s face was dark and anxioms. He wasted no time in preliminaries. “ Where are the other two?” he asked abruptly’. Green looked at him keenly for a moment, and then met the question with another. “Why?” ho asked. “Because that job is not going through.” Green took liis pipe out of his mouth and looked at the other man calmly. “Isn’t it?” he said mockingly. “How do you come to be so sure? You've got nothing to do with it, anyway. You refused the chance." “ I’m going to have this much to do with it, that I am going to stop it.” Dick spoke quietly, but there was a note in hex voice that made the other man look nt him uneasily. “What’s taken you?” he asked in o

conciliatory tone. “You’ve got nothing to worry over, and nobody's going to get hurt.” “I know they are not, because I’m «*t going to take any’ chances with your mates.” “You seem to think you’ve only got to say it to euchre the three of us,” said the other sneeringly. “It rests with you bow far I go—l tell you that job isn’t going ttirough.** “It isn’t easy to see how you're going to stop it.” “You will see if you don’t tell me where I can find Smith and Driver.” “M ant to know all the moves of the game, though you won’t play it?" The next moment he stepped instinctively back, for Dick was standing over him in sudden fury, speaking in a low, concentrated voice. “Now, you’ve wasted all - the time you’re going to. Tell me where to find those fellows and what your plans are, or I go out to get mounted constables to look for them.” Green looked at him evily. “Where the devil do you think you will stand with the police?” “Pretty near where you will, but I’ll do it all the "Same if you don’t give me a chance to fix Smith and Driver.” And Green knew that he would, ana that neither man nor devil could turn him from it, no matter what the cost. The game was up, and Green, shaking with impotent rage, knew it. He tried once more. “What does the fellow who takes the gold down matter to you all of a sudden?” ‘‘Never mind,” was the curt reply. “Where are Smith and Driver?" “They left hours ago,” was the sullen, reluctant answer after a moment. Dick’s face whitened. “Hours ago—why?" “You don't suppose they wanted anyone to see them go out after the gold left. They went pig-hunting at sunrise. That’s all I know." “No it isn’t; where have they planned to wait?” Green cursed him fluently, and swore that he knew no more, but Dick was inexorable, and wrung from him the details of the plan. When he knew all he wanted he turned on his heel and went, heedless of the curses flung after him. The light was failing when Dick reached Mullocky Gully, and before descending into its shadows he pulled up his horse and strained his eyes in the hope of seeing a horseman in the distance. He did not knew when Tony had left Hindon, but he was afraid that he had a long start. If he did not overtake him before he passed Big Rick —Dick’s face set in hard lines as he dismounted hurriedly to continue his journey. The sides of Mullocky Gully were too steep to ride down or up, and Dick chafed at the delay entailed by leading his horse and travelling on foot. It was necessarily a slow proceeding, for the ground was steep and very rough, but Dick broke the record this time, and, reaching the flat on the far side, mounted and broke into a gallop to make up for lost time. He knew that his first hope of finding Smith and Driver and forcing them to abandon tbeir plot of highway robbery was gone. By this time they were in ambush at Big Rock, and somewhere between them and Dick rode Tony with the week’s output of gold from Hindon on the saddle before him. Dick knew that Tony would not be making the speed he was himself Tor the very reason that he hoped Dick was following. Dick’s eyes were strained on the track ahead, and then he suddenly drew a long breath of relief. Ear in the distance the dark figure of a horseman showed against the endless brown monotony of the background. Tony, for sure, but far away from Dick and perilously near Big Rock. A swift, hopeless thought flashed through Dick’s brain that here and now was his Nemesis—a fear that it was not to be given to him to save Tony, and, realising his own impotence,

from his whole being there rose a fierce, wordless cry that whatever price he paid himself it should be well with Tony. Dick was gaining on the dark figure, for it grew steadily larger, but yet lie urged his horse to greater speed, for, though the distance between them was lessening, it was lessening also between Tony and Big Rock, which' now loomed up, grim and menacing, on the left of the track. The sound of horses’ hoofs did not travel far here, for the track was soft, and there was no brush through which to pass. To shout to Tony would also attract the attention of the watchers, so Dick reserved that for the last possible moment. He was rapidly Tony, and beginning to hope that he would reach and pass him when what he feared happened. Tony, within range of the

rock, turned to look fur him, and, seeing him, reined in his horse with a shout of greeting. Dick uttered one vivid word between his teeth and struck spurs into his own horse.

“ Ride for all you’re worth, Tony,” he yelled; “out of range.” In an instant Tony grasped his meaning and, turning, fired in the direction of the roek. and heard Dick swear at him for delaying. As the answering shot eame back Dick galloped up alongside, between Tony and the rock.

“Make him go for all he’s worth,”.he gasped, and Tony obeying, the horses sprang forward neck to . neck. Tony turned in his saddle and fired again, simply in derision, for he could sec nothing in the gathering shadows. They’ rode too rapidly for speech to be easy, and exchanged no word until they had covered enough ground to make pursuit almost impossible. When they slackened speed Tony said regretfully. “If it hadn't been for the gold I’d have stayed and had it out with them.”

There was jio reply, and lie turned to see Dick swaying in his saddle with drooping head. “Good God! Dick, did they get you?” Tony was off his horse and at Dick’s side in an instant, but only just in time, for he was past helping himself. With infinite difficulty he got him out of the saddle and laid him, unconscious, on the ground, and found, with a terrible fear at his heart, that his own hand was warm and wet from the blood which was soaking Dick’s shirt.

The wound was in his shoulder, and the rapid ride had increased the bleeding. Tony tore off his own shirt, and, making a wad, with rough skill did all that was possible under the circumstances. Then he looked round in despair. They were in a lonely place, where no one was likely to pass at this late hour. Dick was seriously wounded, and there was the gold also. Tom was standing quietly by with it in the bag across the saddle. However, there was only one thing to do af present. Tony took out his spirit flask, and, kneeling by Dick, raised his head and got him to swallow a little of the spirit. The white face was set as though in pain, but presently the eyes opened and looked up at the anxious face bending over him. ‘Why, Tony, boy,” he said faintly, and then, frowning with the effort made by 'the clearing brain, roused himself. “I remember—Smith and Driver came out after your gold ” Tony felt as though a cold wave had passed over him, making him shiver, but he made no sign. Dick's thoughts were taking shape, and he went on hurriedly: “Why the devil aren't you getting out of this with the gold, Tony? Mount and get off as hard as you can lick.” “Shut up, old chap, and save your breath,” said Tony gently, but Dick tried to raise himself, and went on excitedly. “Don’t be an ass, Tony. They may be following you- for the gold.” “And what about you if I do?” asked Tony quietly. Silence, and then Dick said deliberately, “They won’t hurt me—l’m one of them.” He heard the sharp intake of Tony’s breath in the pause that followed, and then the cool reply. “That’s a lie, Dick.” “It’s not,” was the dogged answer, though the voice was faint. “I knew you were going to be stuck up to-night.” “You may have,” was the answer. “1 suppose that is why you tried to hold me off coming until to-morrow, and when you couldn't you stayed behind to try and knock the plan on the head. Anyway, you got between me and the-bullet, or else I'd be where you are, aud the gold would be gone.” “That’s nothing to do with it,” returned Diek, speaking with painful slowness. “I am one of that gang, Tony.” ' Tony put a little more of the spirit between the white lips before lie answered in a voice that revived Dick's soul as the brandy did his body. “I don’t care what you were last wqek or yesterday, Dick. That is wiped out, and we begin to-day where we left off in Australia. That’s the last word on that subject. I'll get you down to Dunedin somehow, to-night, and then things will straighten out.” He spoke more cheerfully than he felt, for the look in Dick’s eyes and his broken whisper, “Tony, boy,” brought a Jump to his throat. After that they did not apeak. Dick waa to» exhausted tojg

loss of blood, and Tony, anxiously watching him, gave up his 10l lorn hope of a possibility of holding him on Tom and making a desperate effort to reach the nearest dwelling. Sonic time had passed when Tony suddenly raised his head, listening intently. At first he thought his ears had played him a trick, but the strong, steady sound of hoofbeats grew steadily nearer, and later through the darkness there loomed up the big outline of two of Brady’s mounted constables. "Well, we've not had our ride for nothing,” remarked one coolly as they drew up and surveyed the group of men and horses.

"By Jove. I'm glad to see foil,” said Tony thankfully. “What good chance sent you this way to-night?” “There were two,” said one of the men drily. “One was a young lady who cams to the inspector ready to swear that von were being murdered because you were an hour or two behind time. The other was the inspector himself, who, faith, was -sure that his warning had come true.”

And the next day Tony went from Pick’s bedside, where there was every promise of a good recovery, to the inspector's olliee to return thanks, and remarked, with a twinkle in his eye: “After all, inspector, I brought the gold in under escort yesterday.”