Shortly after our return to Coolgardie a “gold escort” left Bayley’s for the coast, and as a guardian of the precious freight I travelled down to Perth.  There was no Government escort at that time, and any lucky possessor of gold had to carry it to the capital as best he could.

With four spanking horses, Gordon Lyon as driver, three men with him on the express-waggon, an outrider behind and in front, all armed with repeating rifles, we rattled down the road, perhaps secretly wishing that someone would be venturesome enough to attempt to “stick us up.”  No such stirring event occurred, however, and we reached the head of the then partially constructed line, and there took train for Perth, where I eagerly awaited the arrival of my old friend and companion, Percy Douglas.  He meanwhile had had his battles to fight in the financial world, and had come out to all appearances on top, having been instrumental in forming an important mining company from which we expected great things.

PART II FIRST PROSPECTING EXPEDITION

CHAPTER I

THE RUSH TO KURNALPI—­WE REACH QUEEN VICTORIA SPRING

Shortly after Lord Douglas’s return, I took the train to York, where “Little Carnegie,” who had formed one of the team to draw the gold-laden express waggon from Bayley’s to the head of the railway line, was running in one of Mr. Monger’s paddocks.  The Mongers are the kings of York, an agricultural town, and own much property thereabouts.  York and its surroundings in the winter-time might, except for the corrugated-iron roofs, easily be in England.  Many of the houses are built of stone, and enclosed in vineyards and fruit gardens.  The Mongers’ house was quite after the English style, so also was their hospitality.  From York I rode along the old track to Southern Cross, and a lonely ride I had, for the train had superseded the old methods of travel, much to the disgust of some of the “cockies,” or small farmers, who expressed the opinion that the country was going to the dogs, “them blooming railways were spoiling everything”; the reason for their complaint being, that formerly, all the carrying had been in the teamsters’ hands, as well as a considerable amount of passenger traffic.

I had one or two “sells” on the road, for former stopping-places were now deserted, and wells had been neglected, making it impossible, from their depth, for me to get any water.  I was fortunate in falling in with a teamster and his waggon—­a typical one of his class; on first sight they are the most uncouth and foul-tongued men that it is possible to imagine.  But on further acquaintance one finds that the language is as superficial as the dirt with which they cannot fail to be covered, since they are always walking in a cloud of dust.  My friend on this occasion was apostrophising his horses with oaths that made my flesh creep, to help them up a steep hill.  The top reached, he petted and soothed his team in most quaint language.  At the bottom of the slope he was a demon of cruelty, at its summit a kind-hearted human being!  I lunched with him, sitting under his waggon for shade, and found him most entertaining—­nor was the old pony neglected, for he was given a fine feed of chaff and oats.