by Mayne Reid
to work at the same time--besides, they could not handle either pick or shovel to any greateffect, lest they might injure my limbs.
We had been called up for dinner; and I was on the point of climbing outof the tunnel, just at the moment the earth fell in.
Our mates above, had grown impatient at our delay; and commencedshouting for us to come up. I heard one of those below responding tothem. I could not understand what he said; but afterwards learnt, thathe was merely telling them what had happened.
Never shall I forget the strange sound of that man's voice. I suppose,for the reason that I was buried in the earth, it seemed unearthly. Icould form no idea of the distance the speaker was from me. His voiceseemed to come from some place thousands of miles away--in fact fromanother world. I was sensible that some mischance had occurred--that Iwas buried alive, and in great agony; but the voice I heard seemed toproceed from the remotest part of an immense cavern in some planet, fardown in the depths of space. It commanded me to come thither: and Ithought I was preparing to obey that command, by ceasing to live; butthe necessary preparation for another existence appeared to require along time in being completed.
In my struggles for respiration, I fancied that stones and earth werepassing through my lungs; and hours, days and weeks seemed to be spentin this sort of agony. It was real agony--so real as not to begetinsensibility. On the contrary, my consciousness of existence remainedboth clear and active.
I wondered why I did not die of starvation; and tried to discover ifthere was any principle in nature that would enable a person, whenburied alive, to resist the demands of hunger and live for ever withoutfood. It seemed impossible for me to die. One vast world appeared tobe compressing me against another; but they could not both crush out theagony of my existence.
At length the thought occurred to me that I was dead; and that inanother world I was undergoing punishment for crimes committed in that Ihad left.
"What have I ever done," thought I, "that this horrible torture shouldbe inflicted on me?"
Every link in memory's chain was presented to my mental examination, andminutely examined.
They were all perfect to my view; but none of them seemed connected withany act in the past, that should have consigned me to the torture I wassuffering.
My agony at last produced its effect; and I was released from it. Igradually became unconscious, or nearly so. There was still a sensationof pain--of something indescribably wrong; but the keen sensibility ofit, both mental and bodily, had now passed away. This semi-unconsciousstate did not seem the result of the accident that had befallen me. Ithought it had arisen from long years of mental care and bodilysuffering; and was the involuntary repose of a spirit exhausted by sheercontention, with all the ills that men may endure upon earth. Then Ifelt myself transferred from this state to another quite different--oneof true physical pain, intense and excruciating, though it no longerresembled the indescribable horror I had experienced, while trying toinhale the rocks that were crushing the life out of me.
My head was now uncovered; and I was breathing fast and freely.
Though in great pain, I was now conscious of all that was transpiring.
I could hear the voice of `Yorkey,' speaking in his native Yorkshiredialect, and encouraging me with the statement that I would soon be outof danger.
Notwithstanding the pain I still suffered, I was happy--I believe nevermore so in my life. The horrible agony I had been enduring for the wantof breath had passed away; and, as I recognised the voice of thekind-hearted Yorkshireman, I knew that everything would be done for methat man could do.
I was not mistaken: for `Yorkey' soon after succeeded in getting my armsand legs extracted from the shingle; and I was hoisted up to the surfaceof the earth.
Previous to this accident, I had but a faint idea of how much I valuedlife, or rather how much I had hitherto undervalued the endurance ofdeath.
My sufferings, whilst buried in the tunnel, were almost as great asthose I had felt on first learning the loss of Lenore!
This accident had the effect of sadly disgusting me with the romanticoccupation of gold digging--at all events it made me weary of a digger'slife on Mount Blackwood--where the best claim I could discover, paid butvery little more than the expenses incurred in working it.
I thought Mount Blackwood, for several reasons, the most disagreeablepart of Victoria I had ever visited, excepting Geelong. I had a badimpression of the place on first reaching it; and working hard forseveral weeks, without making anything, did not do much towards removingthat impression. I determined, therefore, to go back to Ballarat--not alittle dissatisfied with myself for having left it. After my experienceof the Avoca diggings, I had resolved to remain permanently atBallarat--believing it to be the best gold-field in the Colony--but Ihad allowed false reports of the richness of Mount Blackwood to affectthis resolution; and I was not without the consolation of knowing, thatthe misfortunes that befel me at the latter place were attributable tomy own folly; in lending a too ready ear to idle exaggerations.
Volume Three, Chapter XIV.
THE "ELEPHANT" AND HIS MATE.
For several days after my "exhumation," I was compelled to remain in mytent, an invalid.
When at length I became able to take the road, I started back forBallarat, where I arrived after an arduous journey on foot, that lastednearly three days.
On again becoming fairly settled on this far-famed gold-field, Ipurchased a share in a claim on the "Gravel-pits" lead.
This speculation proved fortunate: for the prospect turned out a goodone. The gold I expected to obtain from my claim--added to what I hadpreviously accumulated--promised to amount to a considerable sum. Withthis, I should have been willing to relinquish the hardships of aminer's life, and follow some less laborious occupation.
When I thought of doing so, however, certain difficulties alwayspresented themselves.
What should I do? What other profession could I follow? These wereinterrogatories, not easily answered.
Where I should go, after leaving the diggings, was a subject forprofound consideration. For what reason should I go anywhere? Whatpurpose had I to accomplish by going anywhere, or doing anything? Whileasking myself these questions, I thought of Jessie, though not withpleasure, for then within my mind would arise a temptation hard toresist.
Unable to shape out any plan, I left it to circumstances; and toiled onfrom day to day, with no more interest in the future than the shovel Iheld in my hands!
How very different it appeared to be with the two young men, who werepart owners of the claim, in which I had purchased a share!
Our "firm" was a large concern, owned by ten of us in all; and out ofthe number, there were but two who appeared to be toiling for an object.The majority of mankind think they are living and working for somepurpose; but many of them are mistaken. They have some wishes, with afaint desire to see them fulfilled. But few there are who labour withthat determined resolve that cannot be shaken, or set aside by thecircumstances of the hour. Men do not often struggle with thedetermined spirit, that is ever certain to insure success.
The most superficial observer could not have failed to perceive, thatthe two young men I have mentioned were acting under the influence ofsome motive stronger than common.
The energy they displayed in their toil, the firmness they exhibited inresisting the many temptations set before them, their disregard of thepast, their anxiety for the present, and confidence in the future--alltold me that they were toiling for a purpose. They acted, as if theyhad never met with any serious disappointment in life; and as if theyfully believed that Fortune's smiles might be won by those who deservethem.
I knew they must be happy in this belief: for I once indulged in itmyself. I could envy them, while hoping that, unlike me, the object forwhich they were exerting themselves might be accomplished. I had seenmany young men--both in California and Australia--yielding to thetemptations that beset them; and squandering the most valuable pa
rt oftheir lives in dissipation--scattering the very gold, in theaccumulation of which they had already sacrificed both health andstrength. It was a pleasure, therefore, to witness the behaviour ofthese two young miners, actuated by principles too pure and strong to beconquered by the follies that had ruined so many. For this reason, Icould not help wishing them success; and I sincerely hoped that virtue,in their case, might meet with its reward.
Nearly everyone has some cause for self-gratification--some littlerevenue of happiness that makes him resigned to all ordinary conditionsof life.
My two companions wished to acquire a certain sum of money, for acertain purpose. They had every reason to believe their wishes would befulfilled; and were contented in their toil. Such was once the casewith myself; but my circumstances had sadly changed. I had nothing toaccomplish, nothing to hope for.
And yet this unfortunate state of existence was not without somereflections, that partially reconciled me to my fate. Others weretoiling with hopes that might end
