The Golden Lure by Katherine Langton

Author:Katherine Langton [Langton, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Australian Historical Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2014-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

A week later the fortunes of the Milligan party took a new direction. Returning to the tent one evening, the men had an air of triumph about them. Pat, with a huge grin, almost skipped over to Ella. Taking her hands in his, he urged her to her feet.

"We've struck wash dirt, Miss Matthews!" He announced. "This is our make or break stage. It'll be all hands on deck now, including yours. You'll work with us at the mine in the afternoons and turn your hand to cradling. I warn you, the wash dirt stage is harder than it looks."

"Wash dirt?" Ella enquired. "I think I've heard that expression before. That's a good sign, isn't it!?"

"A very good sign," Deirdre confirmed. For the first time, Ella thought she looked truly happy. "It all but means we've struck gold, but not quite – although it does means more work! The dirt we bring up now has to be washed if we're to find the gold. Pat believes it's there!"

Although Ella had learned a lot about the ins and outs of gold mining, she remained ignorant of many things.

"You'll find out just how exhausting washing dirt is, Ella. It's hard work, and monotonous." Deirdre grimaced at the thought. "But it has to be done and we'll need your help."

"Certainly, I'll do whatever you ask of me." Ella returned their smiles, feeling that she was now truly a member of the Milligan team.

* * * *

So the following afternoon, instead of staying back at the camp, Ella accompanied Deirdre to the mineshaft. It was the first time she had been this close to it. Standing at the edge, she cautiously looked down.

Somewhere, far below in that darkness, Nathaniel and Christopher toiled away, filling bucket after bucket with dirt, hoping against hope that one of the buckets would contain traces of gold.

How far down did it reach? All Ella could discern was darkness, although she could hear digging sounds.

Deirdre noticed Ella's pensiveness. "Yes, it's dangerous working down there, but Pat's taken every precaution possible against accidents." She sighed. "Oh, I'll be so glad when this is over! I hate thinking of Pat working down there in the dark, and imagining what can happen..."

There was a sudden shout. "Washing stuff!" Ella recognized it as Nathaniel's voice.

Pat, who today wasn't down the shaft but operating the windlass, immediately began winding the mechanism, slowly and carefully. Presently a bucket filled to the brim with dirt reached the surface.

As Deirdre brought the wheelbarrow forward, Pat detached the bucket from the rope. He tipped the dirt into the wheelbarrow.

Deirdre, using a stick, spread the dirt out. "I can't see any gold!" she wailed. Ella couldn't see any golden sparkles either. It seemed incredible to contemplate that this pile of clayey-looking dirt could hold the key to a fortune.

"Well, we can't tell yet until it's been washed, lass," Pat said, rubbing his lower back. "Come along. Down to the creek we go!"

Trundling the wheelbarrow, the three of them went down to the creek where their cradle was waiting.

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