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Updated: May 15, 2025
"If it was with my last breath, I would protest against so cowardly an outrage," replied Fred, with all the contempt that he could assume. "Hullo! I know that voice," cried Kellum, starting forward, and pulling Fred's cap from his face. "D n me, if I didn't think so," he continued. "You are the grocer that dared to raise your hand against me yesterday morning.
Brown; and I felt the truth of the remark. I boldly followed an officer into the commissioner's room, and soon found myself in the presence of Kellum, the commissioner, and half a dozen captains and lieutenants. "I tell you, that every dog of them should be shot, and then you'll hear no more of taxes and rebellion. That's the way I'd punish treason, and it will be effectual.
We followed the kind-hearted officer, and were soon outside the lines, when we thanked him for his kindness. "Some other time we will talk of the matter," he answered. "I must now hasten back to my command; but one word before we part. Don't think that all British officers resemble Colonel Kellum. Now, I will thank you for the overcoats, or my brother officers will scold worse than a dragoon.
Is that the case, sir?" The colonel smiled with bitter scorn, and turned to leave the store. "You refuse me an apology, do you?" Fred demanded, springing in front of Kellum, and barring his way to the door. "Out of my way, grocer," the colonel shouted, with a laugh so insulting that Fred could contain himself no longer. He raised his hand and struck his opponent a light blow across his face.
"If the d d brutes were not killed," muttered the colonel, sotto voce, and with a look of the most intense hatred. "Colonel Kellum, you accuse me of acting unfairly in this business, and I desire an explanation," Fred said, the matter still rankling in his mind. "I have given the only explanation that I shall give, and with that you must rest satisfied," was the reply of the red-faced Briton.
"Away with you, or I'll lock you up, and send you to Melbourne for trial, with your partymen. Go." "Don't provoke him," whispered an officer. "Obey him, and we will do all that we can for your friend." "Will you allow me to exchange one word with your prisoner?" I asked of Kellum. "What, not gone yet?" he roared.
Kellum swelled until I thought that every vein in his body would burst at the indignity. He muttered a few inaudible words, and then rubbed his forehead as though he did not half comprehend the insult, and wished to recall his scattered senses to know whether it was real. "Now," said Fred, "you can go. I have repaid you insult for insult, and we are even-handed.
"When the government solicited our company to establish a daily line of stages between Ballarat and Melbourne, we were promised all the assistance that officials could afford, and no interference was to be allowed; I see that the commissioner, and you, Colonel Kellum, are desirous of driving us from the town, and compelling us to abandon our enterprise.
"Let us try and save them," cried Fred; and without listening to our warning, he started towards the palisade, followed close by Mr. Brown, Smith, and myself. The soldiers took but little notice of us, thinking that we were government officials; so we worked our way by them until we reached the spot where Colonel Kellum was standing, surrounded by his officers.
The colonel was too angry to reply, but I thought that he seemed ashamed of his late attempt on the life of my friend, for he sheathed his sword without seeking to again use it. "You shall hear from me in the course of the day," Kellum said, and without looking to the right or left he marched from the store, mounted his horse, and left our part of the town in peace.
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