THE FAMOUS DALTON.

283

"Now it so happened that she had three in her possession, at the time, one her own, one her daughter's, and one belonging to some one else. She said, foolishly, 'I haven't one. 'Oh, very well,' said Dalton, 'take your choice; either give me what you have, or I'll blow your brains out ;' at the same time presenting a pistol at her head.

"Of course she gave up what she had, and he ransacked the room for anything else he liked to have. He then said to Mrs. Lord, 'Get up!'

"Mr. Lord said, 'Not while you are in the room.' 666 Ah, well, I don't mind that much; I'll stand outside the door.'

"I suppose Mr. Lord went out with him, for he placed an accomplice at the chamber door to watch that Mrs. Lord did not escape, and was proceeding to open the next door, on the landing, when Mr. Lord said, 'Stop, there are some young ladies in that room, who are my visitors, and under my protection, as well as my own daughter. I will not allow you to go in there.'

"Well,' said Dalton, 'tell them to get up, then.'

284

PRESENCE OF MIND.

"Mr. Lord went in and told them to do so, of

course explaining to them who the strangers were. Eleanor and Mary Annie Their father is

in the office of Royal Engineers. The elder had a choice assortment of jewellery, and, I think, showed her presence of mind in disposing of it. The morning before, she had accidentally torn an opening in one of the seams of her dress; into this, between the dress and lining, she put her watch, and planning, as her dress was long, to hold it up at that part, lest the watch should chink against the floor. Her purse she put in a slipper shoe, and kicked it under two beds until it touched the wall. Bracelets and other ornaments she threw into the fire-place, which they took care to fill with curl-papers, and any rubbish they could find. I did not hear much about the others, at this part of the affair, as they are strangers to us.

Miss

"Dalton was impatient, long before they were ready or willing, to leave the room. forgot, that in her little desk she had a choice bracelet. *** At last they must come out, and

THE HOUSE RANSACKED.

285

Dalton marshalled them down stairs, forbidding a word to be spoken. He led them into the large dining-room, where the men, and the young Mr. Lords, were all ranged on one side, pinioned. He fetched Mr. and Mrs. Lord-the guests were allowed seats. Dalton said if they were quiet he would not tie them.

"He and his companion then proceeded to ransack the house, and in the young ladies' room broke open the little desk, took the bracelet and anything else of value about the room, but never guessed the treasures of the fire-place and slipper.

"They then returned to their prisoners, and said if they behaved well they would give them a good breakfast, which they did. The men were untied for the meal, and everything went on quietly, until one whispered something to his neighbour.

"The tremendous burst of passion this excited in Dalton, the threat, with a pistol at the head, to blow his brains out that instant, if a sound were uttered, and the awful language, so paralysed the young ladies that M. A-- slid off her chair and

crouched near the piano, others disappeared from their seats, all were afraid of the shots, and terrified at the violent language.

"While all this had been going on, the constables at the next police station, looking out towards Mr. Lord's, which was on a rising ground, were surprised not to see any stir about the place. One said, 'Why, I thought there were to be such early doings with the shearing? I'll get the glass and examine through it.' He did so, but not a creature was to be seen. Depend upon it there's something up; I'll go and see about it.'

"And I'll go with you,' said a young man who was returning from the Diggings with £40 in his pocket, and had slept at the station, on his way from Launceston to Hobart Town.

"Ah! the poor constable little thought he should never come back alive, and the young man that he should become penniless.

"Just after the disturbance at the breakfast, Kelly, Dalton's accomplice, gave him a signal that some one was approaching. He went to the door

ESCAPE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.

287

and met the constable, who accosted him by name. Dalton told him if he moved a limb he was a dead man. Whether he stirred or not, cannot now be known. In another instant those within heard a shot, and poor Buckley's brains were scattered on the pavement. His companion was relieved of the contents of his pocket, pinioned, and brought in.

"Dalton then ordered young Mr. Lord to pick out three of the best horses. He and Kelly then mounted, each taking one maid-servant on the horse with him, it is supposed, to protect them from the shots which might have followed their departure. The third horse was, I believe, to carry stores. They sent the women back at half a mile from the house. The property they made off with, was of considerable value, and was never recovered.

"The two were taken a few months afterwards, and lodged in the gaol at Launceston, but managed to effect their escape, much to the scandal of the authorities at that side of the island. Kelly was retaken in Melbourne.