The Warriors by Vivian Stuart

Author:Vivian Stuart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jentas Ehf
Published: 2022-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

9

The prevailing drought, although its effect in the vicinity of the Bathurst Plains was much less severe than on the Sydney side of the dividing range of the Blue Mountains, had reduced the level of the Macquarie River by several feet. In places it was little more than a trickle, but there was still deep water in the numerous creeks and gullies, and Rick was up to his knees as he waded the length of one such creek, which he had named Discovery. He was searching for Justin, who was somewhere on the high bank above him.

They had been at Pengallon for ten days now, but with each passing day their hopes had fallen. With improvised tools, they had endeavoured to devise a method of washing the sand dredged up from the creek bed, but with little success, a few small particles being their only reward for hours of patient toil.

Stubbing his foot on a stone, Rick cursed irritably. It had been a painful wrench to leave Katie—his bride of only six weeks—by herself in the rented house at Farm Cove, and she had been upset by his decision, but he had had no choice. He sighed, squinting up into the sun to look for Justin. The Emu’s refit had, of necessity, dictated the date of their departure for their holding, since until the King’s ship was handed over to the caulkers and carpenters, she had been almost continuously at sea and Justin with her, engaged in running the government’s routine errands.

His friend and partner, Rick recalled, had suffered a shattering disappointment when, on the Emu’s return from the Hunter River, he had been informed by an apologetic John Campbell that command of the new colonial sloop Elizabeth was not to be his. Captain Jeffrey, exercising his prerogative as senior naval officer, had, prior to sailing for England, appointed Lieutenant Meredith to the command, giving as his reason the fact that Meredith had elected to marry the daughter of one of Colonel Molle’s officers and remain in the colony.

This had scarcely seemed a good enough reason to Justin, but the Governor had accepted it, and Justin was now, alas, himself thinking of quitting and joining James Forster, the Emu’s captain, on his South American venture. Rick repeated his sigh. He had counted on finding at least sufficient gold at Pengallon to induce Justin to change his mind—even the hope of it would have done. Poor little Jessica was far from eager to settle in Rio de Janeiro, whether or not her husband were to become first lieutenant of a Brazilian seventy-four ... and Katie would miss them sorely, if they did leave Sydney. They—he caught sight of Justin, descending the slope above him, and cupping his hands about his mouth, he called out a greeting.

“Justin—how are you faring?”

Justin turned to look down at him, lowering the pick he was carrying. He had been investigating a seam of what had appeared to be gold-bearing quartz running along a rock face at

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