Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/78

Rh my revolver and give me your riding-whip (a hammer-headed one).” We exchanged weapons and proceeded on our journey. We rode quietly to the top of the hill. “Now then,” said I, “come along,” at the same time putting spurs to my horse, and going off at a sharp canter. On our way we came to a bark-hut shanty; to my disgust C pulled up, and asked the shantykeeper if he had heard the bushrangers were about, &c. I felt annoyed at him, so put spurs to my horse and galloped into Murrumburrah, he following me; not a sign of bushrangers did we see. We put up at an excellent hotel, the name of which I forget. After tea a Mr. Barnes (who was a few months afterwards shot by the bushrangers, an account of which I will give in the proper place) came over and spent the evening with us. I retired to rest about twelve o’clock; by this time it had ceased raining, the moon shone brightly, and everything seemed favourable for our trip on the morrow. We both slept in the same room, a good-sized one, in which there were two beds, but very little bedding. It was all I could do to get to sleep, but at last I dropped off. During the night I was awoke by C shaking me. “Hush,” said he. “What is the matter?” said I. “The bushrangers are outside,” he replied (speaking in an undertone). I sat up, listened, but the only sound that I could hear was the ticking of an old-fashioned clock in an adjoining room. As I did not see the force of turning out on such a cold night, I told him it was “all right,” rolled myself up in the bed clothes, and went off to sleep again. I could not have been asleep long before I was awoke again; C persisted that there was someone prowling about; he would have me get up and go round the house with him. I put on my “inexpressibles,” armed myself with his revolver, he had my whip, and out we went. A beautiful night, as clear as day. Nothing would do but we must walk round the house, which we did and saw nothing. I was hurrying to get inside again. “Stop!” said he, “they are at the stable, the door is open; they’ll take away our horses.” “Well, let them,” said I, “I don't intend bothering myself about them; you can go to the stable if you like.” Suffice it to say he did not. I toddled off to bed, and was very soon in the arms of Morpheus. When I woke up early next morning, he told me he hadn’t slept a wink all night. When we reached Yass we found all in a state of excitement, the military having arrived. About sixty or seventy marines came up in the afternoon, bringing with them a small cannon, which they called the “Bull Pup.” Next morning they all made a start for Bowning; and there was scarcely a soul to be seen in the town by two o’clock, when both soldiers and sailors had disappeared.