The Gold Hunters' Adventures eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,088 pages of information about The Gold Hunters' Adventures.

The Gold Hunters' Adventures eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,088 pages of information about The Gold Hunters' Adventures.

After I had made up my mind what I intended to do, I went to the bank where we had five thousand pounds lying to our credit, drew out the money, and then began my purchases.  In each case I stipulated that the flour should remain in store one week, until I could get teams to cart it to Ballarat.  To this a ready assent was given, and the merchants expressed themselves pleased to transact business with me.  In some instances I paid cash, especially where the quantity bought was very slight, not amounting to more than fifty barrels, or one hundred sacks; but where I bought two or even three hundred barrels, I claimed the privilege of one month’s credit, after paying twenty per cent. of the amount down.

In two hours I had engaged nearly every barrel and sack of flour in Melbourne, and then, and not till then, did I begin to tremble for the result of my speculation.  A dozen times during the night did I wander through the streets of the city, and down to the water’s edge, for the purpose of seeing how the wind blew, and each time did I find that it was favorable for vessels entering the harbor.  I consulted an aged mariner, with tar plentifully sprinkled upon the seat of his trousers, and the son of Neptune told me, with many grave shakes of his head, that,—­

“You can’t always tell about these things; sometimes the wind blows one way here in this bloody hole, and sometimes it blows different on the ocean.”

The next day I despatched two large teams to Ballarat loaded heavily with flour, and sent a letter by the mail, telling Fred what I had done, and advising him to put the price up, but to first, frighten the merchants by bantering them with offers for their stock.  I knew that that course would startle them into asking at least one third more than they had been demanding, and that a dozen of the most prominent ones would start for Melbourne without a moment’s delay for the purpose of seeing what the movement meant.

CHAPTER LXII.

THE FLOUR SPECULATION.—­MR. CRITCHET’S STORY.

After I had written to Fred, and started the teams, I felt a little easier, although no change had taken place in the market.  I knew that dealers had sent to Sydney for a supply of flour, and I feared that their orders would be filled, but in this I was agreeably mistaken.  Flour at Sydney was ten shillings per barrel higher than at Melbourne, with an upward tendency; while not a sack could be obtained of the few farmers who raised wheat, short of eighty pounds per ton,—­just double what I had paid.

Two days after my bargain, and still no ships were signalized.  I felt a little more confidence in myself, and in the bold scheme that I was attempting to carry out.  A dozen teams were in the city, for the purpose of carrying provisions to Ballarat and other mines, but they were delayed, owing to their inability to get flour.  I heard the price of the article quoted at fifty pounds per ton, and I debated whether I should hold on longer, or sell.

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The Gold Hunters' Adventures from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.