He had the features, the bold autocratic regard[Pg 171] with which the early romance-writers were wont9 to depict10 the Norman Baron11, whose part I make no doubt he would have acted creditably had Fate but arranged his existence synchronically.
The prejudices of the day being against a younger son's procuring12 a competence13 after the simple and masterful plan of his ancestors, he was constrained15 to betake himself with his brethren and kinsfolk to far countries and unknown seas. And right manfully had he, and they, of whom more than one name shines brightly on the pages of modern history, dared the perils16 of sea and shore, of waste and wilderness17.
He had been an explorer, was now a pioneer squatter drawing nearer and yet nearer to the goal of fortune. He had been rich, he had been poor, had driven his own bullocks, and been hardly pressed at times. But whatever the occupation or garb18 in which he elected to masquerade temporarily, no one ever looked upon Evelyn Sturt without its being strongly borne in upon his mind that he saw a gentleman of high degree.
I admired him with a boy's natural feeling of hero-worship. All that I saw and heard of him heightened the idea. Not less stalwart than refined,
But in close fight a champion grim,
In camps a leader sage19.
The hero besides of numerous local legends. He had leaped from a bridge into a flooded river and rescued a drowning man. He had offered to suck the poison from the wound of a snake-bitten stock-rider. He had quelled20 the boldest bushman in a shearing21 row.[Pg 172] He was chief magistrate22, universal referee23, good at all arms, gallant24 and gay. The modern exemplar of the good knight25 and true.
Willie Mitchell was a different type—a more recent importation—tall, slight, delicate in frame and constitution—cultured and artistic26; he was the nearest approach to the languid swell27 that in that robust28 and natural-mannered epoch29 we had encountered. He had been enticed30 to Australia by one of the Hunters, who, it appeared to us bush-abiding colonists31, were always going "home." They had very properly pointed32 out to him that he could obtain a high interest for his money by investing it in stock, living like a gentleman the while—a point upon which he was decided33. He had recently purchased a small but rich cattle run in the Mount Gambier district, where the water was subterranean34, and the cattle had to be supplied by troughs.
He afterwards sold this and purchased Langa-willi from Wright and Montgomery, who never did a bit of good after they sold it, the most perfect place and homestead in the West. But this by the way.
Why Langa-willi will always be a point of interest in my memory, apart from other reasons, was that Henry Kingsley lived there the chief part of a year as a guest of Mitchell's. It was at Langa-willi that Geoffrey Hamlyn, that immortal35 work, the best Australian novel, and for long the only one, was written. In the well-appointed sitting-room36 of that most comfortable cottage one can imagine the gifted but somewhat ill-fated author sitting down comfortably after breakfast to his "copy," when his host[Pg 173] had ridden forth37 with the overseer to make believe to inspect the flocks, but in reality to get an appetite for lunch.
I like to think of them spending the evening sociably38 in their own way, both rather silent men—Kingsley writing till he had covered the regulation number of sheets—or finished the chapter, perhaps, where the bushrangers came to Garoopna; Mitchell, reading steadily39, or writing up his home correspondence; the old housekeeper40 coming in with the glasses at ten o'clock, then a tumbler of toddy, a smoke in the verandah, or over the fire if in winter, and so to bed. Peaceful, unexciting days and nights, good for Mitchell, who was not over-strong, and for his talented guest. I suspect that in England, where both abode41 in later years, they often looked back with regret to the peerless climate, the calm days, the restful evenings, spent so far beyond the southern main at Langa-willi. The surroundings were judiciously42 utilised by the author as furnishing that flavour of verisimilitude which added so much to the charm of his fiction. Baroona, where the Buckleys lived, is the name of a property not far from Mount Hesse, and Widderin, the name of Sam Buckley's famous horse, is also that of a hill visible from the plains of Skipton.
Mr. Mitchell, I may mention, was one of those investors43 who apparently44 have only to buy a place to make money out of it. He did so at the Mount Gambier station, knowing no more of cattle and their ways, when he bought it, than of the habits of the alpaca. He then bought Langa-willi, with 20,000 sheep or so, having the same pleasing[Pg 174] ignorance of their tastes and management; held it till after the gold; never did any work himself; spent a fair portion of his time at the Melbourne Club. Finally sold out at a handsome profit with a large stock of sheep, and departed to England, never to return.
This looks like luck. Doubtless there was an infusion45 of that most agreeable ingredient. But I have no doubt either that the mild and elegant William possessed46 a reasonable share of prudence47, about which, like his other endowments and accomplishments48, he said nothing. His first introduction to our Port Fairy community was at race time, when he appeared with the Hunters and Sturt, riding a beautiful little blood mare49 called Medora, a safe and easy mount, his long legs curiously50 near the ground. There couldn't be, however, a nicer fellow, and Australia will ever owe him a debt of gratitude51 for extending the hand of generous and delicate hospitality to the artist who first worthily52 illustrated53 her free forest life, her adventurous sons and daughters fair.
Charles Mackinnon, erst of Skye—old Charles as he may possibly now be called, alas54! and may not the insidious55 adjective be applied56 to others of his contemporaries?—dwelt hard by with Mr. Watson, his partner. He yet lives in my memory as the kindest of men. "Kind as a woman" exactly describes his disposition57 as exemplified in my case. There were no women, by the way, thereabouts in those days, except black ones, who used to fetch in the horses on foot, carry water, and otherwise make themselves useful.
[Pg 175]
While at Kalangadoo I was suddenly knocked over by a feverish58 attack—an exceptional case with me—then, as now, tolerably tough; but an hour or two of that kind of thing takes the conceit59 out of the best of us. Shivering and burning by turns, with throbbing60 headache and nausea61, I had to lie down to it, and was very bad all one night. Charles Mackinnon watched over me in the most patient manner the while. We were new acquaintances, too. I remember distinctly his appearance next morning with a bowl of beef-tea, with which I broke a twenty-four hours' fast.
Finding that I anxiously desired to become possessed of a black boy, he procured62 me a small imp14, so young and callow that he fell off the quiet old horse (which Mackinnon also lent me for him to ride home on), and, sprawling63 in the midst of the dust, cried piteously. Poor Charlie Gambier! as I named him—he had the honour of being christened by his lordship the late Bishop64 Perry of Melbourne. He was also taught, with great pains and perseverance65, his catechism. He could read his Bible well. He turned out much the sort of Christian66 that might have been expected, deteriorating67 rapidly after the age of fifteen, and learning to drink spirits and copy the undesirable68 white man with painful accuracy.
John Meredith, a scion69 of a well-known Tasmanian family, was another resident within hail of the Mount. A stalwart Australian in good sooth, 6 feet 4 inches, or thereabouts, in his stocking-soles; blue-eyed, fair-bearded, and about twice as tall as any old-style Cambrian, I should say, in the somewhat "rangey"[Pg 176] country whence his ancestors came. I had made his acquaintance by riding from Melbourne with him a year or so before. Having just come over from Tasmania with a faithful retainer and four horses, thence imported, he was journeying to a run which he had bought.
He rode an immense black horse, which carried him "like a pony," fifteen stone and over as his weight probably then was! I well remember speculating as to how such a horse might be bred—a grand forehand, clean flat legs, active, powerful, blood-like, a great jumper, and a good carriage horse.
Let any one try to pick up an animal of this type, no matter what price he is prepared to give. He will then realise the correctness of my conviction then, wholly unaltered by after-experience, of his rarity and value.
The faithful retainer, whose name was William Godbold, was a grim-looking "old hand," who had, however, risked his life in a memorable70 flood in order to save a comrade.
Years after the faithful retainer came to work on my station, and being looked upon as "such a good man," was permitted to purchase a colt on credit. He availed himself of the credit (and the colt) by riding him across the border to Mount Gambier. There was no extradition71 treaty in those days. A fawn72 bay, with a black stripe down his back, a shoulder cross and mule73 markings (see Darwin), four years old, fast and sound—I never was paid for that colt, and "still the memory rankles," trifling74 as is the deficit75! Many debts have I forgiven. Some, alas! have had to be forgiven to me. But that colt[Pg 177]—"Chilleno" by name, own brother to my best hack76 "The Gaucha"—I can't forgive that one.
On my way out and back—it was some four or five days' ride—I stayed at various stations. It was de règle in those days, and I don't know a pleasanter ending to a day's ride than meeting a hospitable77 squatter in his own house. You have had just work enough to tire you reasonably, to make you enjoy a cheerful meal, some fresh unstudied talk (people are twice as confidential78 in the bush, even with strangers, as they are in town), a smoke in the verandah, and the sound, peaceful sleep that follows all. Then the awakening79 in the lovely fresh bush air, winter or summer, the feeling is ennobling, invigorating. As he fills his lungs and expands his breast therewith the wayfarer80 feels a better and wiser man. Old Mr. Robertson, a Scottish settler, had a lovely station on the Wannon. To his homestead travellers chiefly gravitated for reasons which he summarised somewhat plainly on one occasion.
"Don't think I believe you come to see old Robertson," he said. "In the summer it's the fruit that fetches you, and in the winter Mary's jam." Now, Miss Robertson's preserves and conserves81 were the admiration82 of the whole district, while the orchard83 in the season was a marvel84 for fruit of every kind and sort.
I wish I could show those good people and certain conceited85 gardeners who persist in pruning86 and cutting every lower limb of their fruit trees, the orchard at Wando Vale, as in those days. Great umbrageous87 apple trees with long lateral88 branches trailing on the ground, covered with fruit of the finest size and quality.
[Pg 178]
The remarkable89 thing about these apple trees was that they had never been grafted90 or pruned91. They all came from the seed of a barrel of decayed apples, and which, being of many different varieties, were, as the old gentleman expressed it, "each better than the other." That such is not the general result I am aware, being a bit of a gardener myself, but it was the fact in this instance, as I saw and tasted the fruit, and have the word of the owner for it besides, who planted the trees with his own hands.
Mr. Alfred Arden I remember visiting at Hilgay, as also the late John Coldham of Grassdale. What a lovely bit of country his was! And is not all the Wannon the "pick of creation"—Colac, perhaps, excepted? Low deep-swarded hills, rolling downs, and thickly-timbered slopes, all wheat land, and forty bushels to the acre at that. Too good for this wicked world almost! The men who took it up first had hardly sufficient inducement to exert themselves. There is such a thing as being too well off. I am aware it is not good for me, above all men, but I should like to have a try at bearing it again, and risk
His dangerous wealth
With all the woes92 it brings.
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1
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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squatter
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| n.擅自占地者 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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colonist
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| n.殖民者，移民 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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12
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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18
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
shearing
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| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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referee
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| n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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40
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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41
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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42
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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43
investors
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| n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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44
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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45
infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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46
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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50
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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51
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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52
worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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53
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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55
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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56
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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58
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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61
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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66
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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deteriorating
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| 恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 ) | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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extradition
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| n.引渡（逃犯） | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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74
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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deficit
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| n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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81
conserves
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| n.（含有大块或整块水果的）果酱，蜜饯( conserve的名词复数 )v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的第三人称单数 ) | |
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82
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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85
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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86
pruning
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| n.修枝，剪枝，修剪v.修剪（树木等）( prune的现在分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
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87
umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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88
lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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89
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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90
grafted
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| 移植( graft的过去式和过去分词 )； 嫁接； 使（思想、制度等）成为（…的一部份）； 植根 | |
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91
pruned
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| v.修剪（树木等）( prune的过去式和过去分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
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92
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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