Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 11, 2025
As Brixton said, Gashford had cheated him at play, and this had rendered the ruined man unusually savage. The sun was down when the two friends entered their tent and began to pull off their muddy boots, while a little man in a blue flannel shirt and a brown wide-awake busied himself in the preparation of supper. "What have you got for us to-night, Paddy?" asked Westly.
The camp'll be attacked in ten minutes! Be obadient now, an' foller me." Flinders turned and ran out again, taking the path to Gashford's hut with the speed of a hunted hare. Fred Westly followed. Bursting in upon the bully, who had not yet retired to rest, the Irishman seized him by both arms and repeated his alarming words, with this addition: "Sind some wan to rouse the camp but silently!
Tom Brixton was thrust into a strong blockhouse, used chiefly as a powder magazine, but sometimes as a prison, the key of which was kept on that occasion in Gashford's pocket, while a trusty sentinel paced before the door. That night Fred Westly sat in his tent, the personification of despair.
Only one group had been checked, and, strange to say, that was the party that happened to cluster round and rush with their chief. But the reason was clear enough, for that section of the foe had been met by Mahoghany Drake, Bevan, Westly, Brixton, Flinders, and the rest, while Gashford at last met his match, in the person of the gigantic Stalker.
Westly, after having told me for the last three weeks that nothing was wanting for my accommodation but your consent, having told me so, so late as Friday, sends me word on Monday that he would not do it at all. In four days I have a cognovit expires for 200l. I can't suffer my family to be turned into the streets if I can help it. I have no resource but my abilities, such as they are.
One can understand, therefore, the indignation that was roused in the camp when Tom Brixton revived the practice in such a cool and impudent manner. It was felt that, despite his being a favourite with many of the diggers, he must be made an example. Pursuit was, therefore, organised on an extensive scale and in a methodical manner. Among others, his friend Fred Westly took part in it.
It embraced all that part of the continent lying between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, and extending westly from the heads of these rivers in direct lines to the South Seas; so that the original territory of Georgia extended from ocean to ocean.
The others followed suit and the forest soon swallowed them all in its dark embrace. In making this selection Gashford had fallen into a mistake not uncommon among scoundrels that of judging other men by themselves. He knew that Westly was fond of his guilty friend, and concluded that he would tell any falsehood or put the pursuers on any false scent that might favour his escape.
As if to corroborate Paddy's opinion, Westly showed signs of returning consciousness, and soon after sat up. "Did ye kill that bar all by yerself?" asked one of the men who held the fugitive. But Tom would not condescend to reply, and in a few minutes Crossby gave the word to march back towards Pine Tree Diggings.
"Ah! then, Muster Gashford," said Flinders, with the deepest pathos, "it's yer own mother would plade wid ye for the poor boy's life, av she was here think o' that. Sure he's young and inexparienced, an' it's the first offince he's iver committed " "No, not the first" interrupted Gashford. "The first that I knows on," returned Flinders. "Tell me does Westly know of this proposal of yours?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking