LITMIR.BIZ

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George.

      John held up his hand. ‘Hold on, I think I hear something.’

      ‘You’re right!’ George said. ‘I can hear wheels on the road. Quick, pull the log across the road.’

      Mathew said with suppressed excitement, ‘Mount up boys; this is it.’

      The coach rounded the bend then pulled up quickly to avoid the obstruction. From behind the rocks came the three Banshees wielding their Colt pistols.

      ‘This is a bail-up! Everybody get out of the coach,’ yelled John in his best female voice.

      A shot was fired by one of the policemen, missing the three bushrangers. Mathew responded immediately firing a shot into the coach, wounding a policeman in the arm. The police decided enough was enough and alighted from the coach with their hands up. The Banshees confiscated their manacles and handcuffed them all to the spokes of the coach. The driver and co-driver were told to get into the cabin of the coach.

      After grabbing the six strong boxes, the men tied them to the packhorses. The Banshees mounted up and shouted, ‘Tell them the Banshees bailed you up.’

      They then galloped off down the road, and after a mile, the bushrangers headed inland to their secret cave.

      The three Banshees arrived at the cave, tied up the six horses, removed the heavy boxes from the packhorses and carried them into the cave.

      ‘Right, John, I hope you’re right about these tomahawks.’

      ‘Only one way to find out, Mathew.’

      John swung the small axe with significant force, hitting the padlock square on. It didn’t break, so he swung it again and again and finally the lock sprang open. John eagerly opened the lid and stared at the contents, as did his two companions. The box was full of gold nuggets and bags of gold dust.

      He handed the other tomahawk to George while he continued to open the other boxes. The two men cracked open all six in thirty minutes. Every box was the same; full of gold.

      The Banshees waited until 1 am before heading back to Ballarat. They arrived at 4 am, the return journey slower due to the weight the packhorses were required to carry. They quietly stabled the horses, relieving them of their heavy load. John went ahead to ensure the way was clear, and the three men carried in one box at a time. Eventually, all six were safely stacked in Mathew’s suite. When weighed the estimated value of the haul was £15,000.

      ‘We have to be careful, boys. If we start spending this booty foolishly around town we’ll bring suspicion upon ourselves. My suggestion is we use George’s mine as a ploy. We’ll bring the gold up from the mine in small amounts; word will get around that George has a winning shaft.’

      ‘You never know, when we’ve finished our bushranging careers I might be able to sell the bloody thing for a handsome figure.’

      ‘You wouldn’t deceive an innocent miner would you, George?’ said John.

      ‘Don’t forget, mate, this bloody shaft produced a sixty-two-pound nugget. It could do it again.’

      ‘Let’s hope we find another one, then we could cease putting our lives on the line,’ said Mathew.

      July 15, 1857

      Mathew heard two Cobb & Co-drivers who had too much to drink talking in the bar about a big shipment leaving for Melbourne on July 17. He called a meeting of the Banshees in his suite that night.

      ‘I think this might be the shipment we’ve been waiting for. It’s been ten weeks since the last one.’

      ‘As you know, the gold we plundered last time has been signed and accounted for by the Gold Commissioner. As far as he’s concerned our gold is legitimate,’ said George.

      ‘So what you’re intimating, George, is it appears the mine’s gold has dried up,’ suggested Mathew.

      ‘Exactly. If we don’t keep the flow of gold coming the other miners will think it’s a dead shaft.’

      ‘So we’re all in agreement? We ride again in two nights’ time.’

      ‘Agreed.’

      ‘Have we got any idea when the coach is due to depart Ballarat?’ asked Mathew.

      ‘I’ll find out and report back,’ said John.

      ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same old 3 pm. These fellows don’t seem to be very imaginative,’ said George.

      John wandered down to see his friend at Cobb & Co. He hoped he would be cooperative, considering John let him win at poker the last time they played.

      ‘Hello, Frank. How are things with you?’

      ‘G’day John. Are you here to try and get your money back?’

      ‘No, you won fair and square, mate.’

      ‘What can I do for you?’

      ‘I was hoping to catch the coach to Melbourne tomorrow.’

      ‘You’re in luck. There’s one leaving at 10 am.’

      ‘Oh, I’m afraid I won’t be able to catch a morning coach. Have you got one departing in the afternoon?’

      ‘Sorry, mate, the only afternoon coach is leaving at 3 pm tomorrow but it’s closed to passengers.’

      ‘Oh, that’s a shame. I’ll have to delay my trip. Thanks anyway, Frank. See you at the next game.’

      ‘See you John, and sorry I can’t help you.’

      John headed for the Golden Nugget to inform Mathew of the tidings. He found him in his office. ‘Busy at it I see,’ he observed.

      ‘Hello John; yes, there’s always paperwork to take care of.’

      ‘I was hoping to catch the Cobb & Co coach to Melbourne tomorrow afternoon but apparently it’s not taking passengers.’

      ‘That’s a shame, mate. What time is it leaving?’

      ‘Three pm apparently.’

      ‘Can I shout you a beer, John?’

      ‘Thank you, but no, I’ve got some things to take care of.’

      John headed back to his cottage to prepare himself for the big night.

       John’s Cottage

      The three friends arrived at Mathew’s suite at 7 pm. The object of the meeting was to go over their plans for the following night.

      Mathew had reconnoitred the road soon after the last hold up to discover a suitable place which would allow the Banshees cover. It was important to change their bail up locations to ensure the element of surprise. The location he chose was only an hour out of Ballarat. What the bushrangers didn’t know was that the Victorian Police Commissioner, Francis O’Connor, was due to be riding in the coach with four of his finest; Edward Reilly, William Campbell, John McNally and Robert Strahan. This gold shipment would be the most valuable transported to Melbourne to date, valued by the Gold Commissioner at £25,000.

      July 17, 1857

      The modus operandum remained the same. George, leading a packhorse departed first at 1 pm. John left thirty minutes later and Mathew at 2 pm. They all met up at Leigh Creek where they changed into their disguises and waited for the coach to round the bend just before the bridge. A large log had been placed across the road.

      At five minutes past three they saw the coach coming down the road. The driver sighted the obstruction, pulling up the four horses just in time.

      The Banshees rode out in front of the coach yelling in their shrieking voices that it was a bail up.

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