The Gold Hunters' Adventures; Or, Life in Australia

by William Henry Thomes

BY

WILLIAM H. THOMES

A RETURNED AUSTRALIAN.

Illustrated by Champney.

BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.

NEW YORK:
CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.

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CONTENTS.

	INTRODUCTION	[13]
	CHAPTER I.
	FIRST THOUGHTS OF GOING TO AUSTRALIA.—DEPARTURE FROM CALIFORNIA.—LIFE ON BOARD SHIP.—ARRIVAL AT WILLIAMS TOWN.—DESCRIPTION OF MELBOURNE.—A CONVICT'S HUT.	[15]
	CHAPTER II.
	A MORNING IN AUSTRALIA.—JOURNEY TO THE MINES OF BALLARAT.—THE CONVICT'S STORY.—BLACK DARNLEY, THE BUSHRANGER.	[20]
	CHAPTER III.
	TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA.—AN ADVENTURE WITH SNAKES.—CARRYING THE MAILS.	[29]
	CHAPTER IV.
	EATING BROILED KANGAROO MEAT.—AUSTRALIAN SPEAKS AND AMERICAN RIFLES.	[34]
	CHAPTER V.
	THE SOLITARY STOCKMAN.—SHOOTING A KANGAROO.	[41]
	CHAPTER VI.
	ADVENTURE WITH A DOG.—THE MURDER IN THE RAVINE.—STORY OF AN OUTRAGED WOMAN.	[47]
	CHAPTER VII.
	BLACK DARNLEY'S VILLANY.—THE CONVICT STOCKMAN.	[56]
	CHAPTER VIII.
	AN EXPEDITION.—A FIGHT WITH BUSHRANGERS.—DEATH OF BLACK DARNLEY.	[61]
	CHAPTER IX.
	THE STOCKMAN'S DAUGHTER.—MOUNTED POLICE OF MELBOURNE.	[68]
	CHAPTER X.
	DESPERATE DEEDS OF TWO CONVICTS.—LIEUT. MURDEN'S STORY.	[73]
	CHAPTER XI.
	SAGACITY OF A DOG.—A NIGHT'S ADVENTURES.	[79]
	CHAPTER XII.
	DISCOVERY OF A MASONIC RING.—FUNERAL PYRE OF BLACK DARNLEY.	[87]
	CHAPTER XIII.
	THE STOCKMAN AND HIS PARROT.—DARING PLOT OF A ROBBER CHIEFTAIN.	[93]
	CHAPTER XIV.
	DISCOVERY OF STOLEN TREASURES IN THE STOCKMANS'S CELLAR.	[101]
	CHAPTER XV.
	DYING CONFESSION OF JIM GULPIN, THE ROBBER.	[107]
	CHAPTER XVI.
	A FORCED MARCH TOWARDS MELBOURNE.	[114]
	CHAPTER XVII.
	TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO MELBOURNE.	[120]
	CHAPTER XVIII.
	LARGE FIRE IN MELBOURNE.—ENGLISH MACHINES AT FAULT.	[127]
	CHAPTER XIX.
	PARDON OF SMITH AND THE OLD STOCKMAN.—GRAND DINNER AT THE GOVERNOR'S.	[134]
	CHAPTER XX.
	DUEL BETWEEN FRED AND AN ENGLISH LIEUTENANT.	[142]
	CHAPTER XXI.
	PREPARATIONS FOR THE SEARCH FOR GULPIN'S BURIED TREASURES.	[151]
	CHAPTER XXII.
	DEPARTURE FROM MELBOURNE.—FIGHT WITH THE NATIVES.	[158]
	CHAPTER XXIII.
	ARRIVAL AT THE OLD STOCKMAN'S HUT.—MYSTERIOUS INTERRUPTIONS DURING THE HUNT.	[164]
	CHAPTER XXIV.
	ROBBERY OF THE CART.—CAPTURE OF STEEL SPRING.	[171]
	CHAPTER XXV.
	STEEL SPRING'S HISTORY.	[176]
	CHAPTER XXVI.
	FINDING OF THE TREASURE.	[181]
	CHAPTER XXVII.
	CAPTURE OF ALL HANDS, BY THE BUSHRANGERS.	[187]
	CHAPTER XXVIII.
	OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT MURDEN AND HIS FORCE.—ROUT OF THE BUSHRANGERS.	[195]
	CHAPTER XXIX.
	REVENGE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.—FIRING OF THE FOREST.	[201]
	CHAPTER XXX.
	PERILOUS SITUATION DURING THE FIRE.—STEEL SPRING TURNS UP.	[208]
	CHAPTER XXXI.
	CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS, AND DEATH OF NOSEY.	[213]
	CHAPTER XXXII.
	RETURN TO THE STOCKMAN'S HUT.—SMITH IN LOVE.	[219]
	CHAPTER XXXIII.
	RECOVERY OF THE GOLD.—ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT.	[226]
	CHAPTER XXXIV.
	THE BULLY OF BALLARAT.—FRED FIGHTS A DUEL.	[234]
	CHAPTER XXXV.
	BALLARAT CUSTOMS, AFTER A DUEL.	[242]
	CHAPTER XXXVI.
	ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT.—MR. BROWN'S STORY.	[249]
	CHAPTER XXXVII.
	FINDING OF A 110 LB. NUGGET.—CAVING IN OF A MINE.	[257]
	CHAPTER XXXVIII.
	INCIDENTS IN LIFE AT BALLARAT.	[265]
	CHAPTER XXXIX.
	ATTEMPT OF THE HOUSEBREAKER.—ATTACK BY THE SNAKE.	[272]
	CHAPTER XL.
	DEATH OF THE BURGLAR BY THE SNAKE.	[278]
	CHAPTER XLI.
	VISIT TO SNAKES' PARADISE.	[284]
	CHAPTER XLII.
	FLIGHT FROM THE SNAKES.—ATTACKED BY THE BUSHRANGERS.	[291]
	CHAPTER XLIII.
	TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO BALLARAT, WITH THE BUSHRANGERS.	[299]
	CHAPTER XLIV.
	THRASHING A BULLY.	[305]
	CHAPTER XLV.
	A YOUNG GIRL'S ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF HER LOVER.	[312]
	CHAPTER XLVI.
	A MARRIAGE, AND AN ELOPEMENT.	[318]
	CHAPTER XLVII.
	COLLECTING TAXES OF THE MINERS.	[326]
	CHAPTER XLVIII.
	MURDEN AND STEEL SPRING ARRIVE FROM MELBOURNE.	[333]
	CHAPTER XLIX.
	CATCHING A TARL AS WELL AS A CASSIOWARY.	[340]
	CHAPTER L.
	ARRIVAL OF SMITH.—ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.	[346]
	CHAPTER LI.
	ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.	[353]
	CHAPTER LII.
	THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. CRITCHET.	[359]
	CHAPTER LIII.
	OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF MR. BROWN.—THEY SEND FOR STEEL SPRING.	[366]
	CHAPTER LIV.
	THE WAY THE COLONISTS OBTAIN WIVES IN AUSTRALIA.	[372]
	CHAPTER LV.
	ADVENTURES AT DAN BRIAN'S DRINKING-HOUSE.	[378]
	CHAPTER LVI.
	ADVENTURES CONTINUED.	[383]
	CHAPTER LVII.
	MORE OF THE SAME SORT.	[390]
	CHAPTER LVIII.
	CONVALESCENCE OF MR. CRITCHET, AND OUR DISCHARGE FROM THE CRIMINAL DOCKET.	[398]
	CHAPTER LIX.
	OUR TEAMSTER BARNEY, AND HIS WIFE.	[403]
	CHAPTER LX.
	MIKE FINDS THE LARGE "NUGGET."	[410]
	CHAPTER LXI.
	THE RESULT OF GROWING RICH TOO RAPIDLY.	[414]
	CHAPTER LXII.
	THE FLOUR SPECULATION.—MR. CRITCHET'S STORY.	[419]
	CHAPTER LXIII.
	THE SAME, CONTINUED.	[427]
	CHAPTER LXIV.
	MR. BROWN'S DISCHARGE FROM THE POLICE FORCE.—BILL SWINTON'S CONFESSION.	[434]
	CHAPTER LXV.
	THE EXPEDITION AFTER BILL SWINTON'S BURIED TREASURES.	[439]
	CHAPTER LXVI.
	JOURNEY AFTER THE BURIED TREASURE.	[445]
	CHAPTER LXVII.
	THE HUNT FOR THE BURIED TREASURE.	[451]
	CHAPTER LXVIII.
	THE ISLAND GHOST.—NARROW ESCAPE OF MR. BROWN.	[456]
	CHAPTER LXIX.
	CAPTURE OF THE GHOST.	[461]
	CHAPTER LXX.
	THE GHOST AND THE BUSHRANGERS.	[468]
	CHAPTER LXXI.
	SAM TYRELL AND THE GHOST.	[474]
	CHAPTER LXXII.
	FINDING THE BURIED TREASURE.	[484]
	CHAPTER LXXIII.
	THE ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE.	[490]
	CHAPTER LXXIV.
	ARRIVAL AT MR. WRIGHT'S STATION.	[496]
	CHAPTER LXXV.
	SUPPER.—RETURN OF MR. WRIGHT'S SCOUTS.	[501]
	CHAPTER LXXVI.
	MIKE TUMBLES INTO THE RIVER.—ARRIVAL OF THE BUSHRANGERS.	[511]
	CHAPTER LXXVII.
	CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.	[517]
	CHAPTER LXXVIII.
	PUNISHING THE BULLY.	[524]
	CHAPTER LXXIX.
	MR. WRIGHT'S FARM.—DEATH OF KELLY.	[529]
	CHAPTER LXXX.
	JOURNEY BACK TO BALLARAT.	[536]
	CHAPTER LXXXI.
	STEEL SPRING IN THE FIELD.—ATTEMPT OF THE COMMISSIONER TO CONFISCATE OUR HORSES.	[542]
	CHAPTER LXXXII.
	SAME CONTINUED.—DEATH OF ROSS.	[549]
	CHAPTER LXXXIII.
	ARREST OF FRED.—TRIP TO MELBOURNE, AND ITS RESULTS.	[555]