by Dilly Court
She did not mention his plight to the others, but she owed her life to the creeping man and she was determined to do something to make his existence a little easier. There was only one person in whom she could confide and that was Leah. Early next morning she timed her trip to fetch water from the creek to coincide with Leah’s. It was a cool, clear spring day and the scent of the gum trees filled the air, together with the fragrant smell of burning wattle and coffee.
‘Are you feeling better today, Leah?’ Essie asked, dipping her bucket into the creek.
‘A bit, luv, although I get so tired these days.’
‘You work too hard. Those boys of yours ought to do more for themselves.’
‘Tell them that,’ Leah said, wincing as she hefted the second bucket from the water. ‘They’re good boys, but they can’t look after themselves. Goodness knows what would happen if I wasn’t there to cook their meals and wash their clothes.’
‘That’s what I was going to talk to you about,’ Essie said earnestly. ‘I went to see Beasley yesterday. D’you know he saved my life – he killed a brown snake. Snapped its neck with a flick of his wrist. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘You was lucky, dear. A bite from one of them brutes will kill you.’
‘I know, and I’m truly grateful to him, but it’s obvious that he isn’t well. I gave him some food, but he’s filthy and his clothes are in tatters. I want to do something for him.’
‘He’s a proud man, Essie. I take him grub when I can spare it, but he’s used to me. He won’t accept charity.’
‘I know that, but perhaps if I gave him some old clothes of Raven’s to wear while I wash and mend his tatters, maybe he’d allow that.’
Leah started off back in the direction of her hut. ‘Good luck, that’s all I can say.’
Essie said nothing. Her mind was set on helping Beasley, although she had seen grey faces like his in the back alleys of Limehouse and she had a feeling that time was running out for the creeping man. She took the water back to the hut and filled the kettle. Raven and Freddie were awake, demanding warm water for shaving, and she told them curtly that they would have to wait. Raven shrugged and went down to the creek to wash, but Freddie held back.
‘What’s the matter, Essie? You’ve been quiet since last evening.’
‘I almost stepped on a brown snake yesterday afternoon.’
‘You have to be more careful. Those things are extremely venomous.’
‘I know, I wasn’t thinking and it would have struck if Beasley hadn’t intervened.’
‘The creeping man?’
‘Yes, the old man who helped me when my skirt got caught on a thorn. He killed the snake, but that’s not what’s worrying me. He’s sick, Freddie, and in desperate need of clean clothes.’
Freddie gazed at her, frowning thoughtfully. ‘I suppose you want me to give him some of mine.’
She smiled. ‘That’s the general idea. I didn’t like to ask Raven, because I thought he’d tell me to leave well alone.’
‘I dare say he would, but I’m not my brother. I know what it’s like to have nothing.’ He put his hand in his pocket and took out a few coins. ‘Take this to Tandy’s store and get what you think Beasley needs, and for heaven’s sake keep a look out for snakes and spiders.’
She smiled and nodded, touched by his concern. ‘I will, don’t worry.’
‘And don’t stop to talk to anyone. The miners are up in arms and looking for trouble – you don’t want to get involved.’
‘Thanks, Freddie. You’re a toff. I will be careful, I promise.’ She glanced round to see Raven striding back from the creek. His hair was wet and drops of water glistened on his unshaven chin. His damp shirt clung to his broad chest and she was suddenly aware of the rippling musculature beneath the thin material. She turned away quickly and hurried into the hut.
Alice was just stirring but Sadie was still sound asleep, curled up in her bedroll. Alice swung her legs over the side of the bed, yawned and stretched. ‘Another beastly day in this hellhole. My hands are ruined and I’ve caught the sun. I’ll never be able to show my face in society again.’
Sometimes it was hard to be patient with Alice’s self-obsession, but Essie knew that life in camp was hard for her and she made an effort to be patient. ‘The tan will fade in time and when you return to your life of luxury your hands will heal.’
‘It feels as though we’ll be stuck here for ever,’ Alice sighed. ‘Falco promised to take me home. He gave me his word.’
‘Then I’m sure he’ll turn up, or maybe Raven will take us back to Geelong when he’s satisfied that there’s nothing left to find in his diggings.’ Essie picked up the sack of oats. ‘By the way, I have an errand to run after breakfast. Will you be all right here with Sadie?’
‘Where are you going?’
‘I have a debt to pay. Don’t worry about me.’
‘I worry that if anything happens to you, I’ll be left to do your work as well as my own,’ Alice said with a hint of a smile. She stood up and stretched. ‘My friends in London would be dumbfounded if they could see me now.’
‘I’m sure they would be impressed.’ Essie picked up the sack of oatmeal and took it outside to measure scoopfuls into the big, soot-blackened saucepan.
Later that day she made the excuse of going to Tandy’s to purchase some lamp oil. The store was quiet in the early afternoon, when the women in camp were busy with their endless round of chores while the men were at work. Essie had time to look through the rack of work clothes and found a flannel shirt and a pair of loose-fitting canvas trousers. They looked about the right size, but the fit was immaterial considering the physical deformity of the wearer, and she spent the rest of the money on bread, cheese and a bottle of rum to ease the creeping man’s pain. She paid Tandy, wondering if he ever smiled or had a good word to say to anyone, but obviously it was not her turn to benefit from any sociable instincts he might possess and she left the shop feeling almost sorry for him. To live in such a joyless state must be an unhappy existence. She set off to find Beasley, but he was not in his gunyah, and although she called his name there was no response. She decided to leave the food and drink in his shelter, wrapped in what passed for a bedroll. There was little else she could do, and if he had had the strength to go foraging for food it must be a good sign. She made her way back to the hut but her feeling of relief was short-lived. Sadie met her with an anxious look on her small features.
‘Leah is taken poorly again, Essie. Big Joe come to tell you, but you wasn’t here.’
‘Really!’ Alice said, throwing down the sweeping brush. ‘Are you the only person here who can help these people? What did they do before you arrived in camp, Esther?’
Ignoring Alice’s petulant outburst, Essie hurried over to the Halfpennys’ shack where she found Leah prostrate on the bed.
‘She come over faint again,’ Joe said anxiously. ‘It was lucky I was the last to leave for the mine, but I got to go now or Pa will fetch me a clout that’ll knock me into next week.’
‘You go,’ Essie said firmly. ‘I’ll take care of her.’ She spoke with more confidence than she was feeling. It was obvious that Leah was in need of proper medical attention as her breathing was shallow and her face a colourless mask. Essie waited until Joe was out of earshot and she knelt by the bed.
‘How are you feeling, Leah?’
‘Not so good, luv. Me old ticker is racing like the favourite at the Derby.’
‘Is there a doctor in the camp?’
‘There’s Ebenezer Pardon, but he served time for killing a patient. He’s a ticket-of-leave man.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘He’s free to work and earn his living but he can’t return to England, and if he gets into trouble he goes back to the penal colony.’
‘Where am I likely to find him?’
Leah closed her eyes. ‘Ask Joe. He’ll take you to him.’
Essie caught up with Joe, although she had to
make her way through the diggings to the mine shaft where the huge crushing machine was thundering away, making conversation almost impossible. By means of sign language she managed to get him to a place where she could make herself heard.
‘Your ma needs a doctor, and she said you might know where to find one.’
He shook his shaggy head. ‘I dunno, Essie. Pa don’t hold with Ebenezer Pardon. Says he’s a quack.’
‘Your ma is very sick, Joe. I can patch up cuts and help to bring down a fever, but I can’t help her. She needs a doctor and if that man knows anything at all about medicine he’s our best bet. Take me to him, please.’
‘What’s going on?’ Shem, the eldest Halfpenny son, strode towards them, glowering at his brother. ‘Get back to work.’
‘Ma’s sick again,’ Joe said warily. ‘Essie’s come to ask for help.’
Shem towered over Essie, his brows meeting over the bridge of his hawk-like nose. ‘We can take care of our own. Mind your own business, girl.’
‘That ain’t polite,’ Joe protested angrily. ‘Ma thinks the world of Essie.’
‘And I think the world of her,’ Essie said defiantly. ‘She needs to see a doctor, Shem, and as far as I can tell there’s only one in the camp.’
‘I ain’t giving Ma into the charge of a murderer. All she needs is rest, and we’ll see that she gets it.’
‘What’s going on? Why have you two stopped work?’ Ham, the middle son walked up to them, eyeing Essie speculatively. ‘What’s she doing here?’
By this time Essie had had enough of the Halfpenny brothers. She faced them, arms akimbo. ‘Now you listen to me, you lazy lumps. Your ma is killing herself trying to look after you and you’re all big enough and ugly enough to take care of yourselves.’
There was a stunned silence as all three gazed down at her in amazement.
‘You may well look ashamed,’ Essie continued. ‘Your ma is a sick woman and she needs proper medical attention. I’m going to find Ebenezer Pardon with or without your help, but you all need to start taking care of your ma or the next thing you know you’ll be burying her. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
All three bowed their heads like naughty schoolboys. Shem was the first to recover and he nodded. ‘Maybe you’re right. But she’s a stubborn woman. She won’t let us help her.’
‘We could try harder,’ Joe said cautiously. ‘I could fetch water.’
‘Is she really bad?’ Ham asked, his bottom lip trembling. ‘She ain’t going to die, is she?’
‘Only a doctor can tell you that. We’re wasting time, so do you know this man? If so where is he?’
‘You boys get back to work.’ Shem reached out to take Essie by the hand. ‘I’ll take the girl to find Pardon. He’d better make Ma better or he’ll be sorry.’ He led Essie away from the din of the crusher, and she had to run in order to keep up with his long strides.
Ebenezer Pardon was very drunk. He was unshaven and reeked of rum and stale tobacco. Shem had to hold his head under water in an attempt to sober him up, but eventually they managed to make him understand his mission. One look at Shem’s set jaw was enough to convince Ebenezer to make a house call, but once outside his tent he tried to make a run for it, moving in a curious crab-like manner. Shem caught up with him in two long strides, seized him by the collar and the seat of his pants, and frog-marched him through the camp to the amusement of the onlookers, letting go only when Ebenezer promised to do as he was told.
Shem accompanied them all the way home. ‘Right then, you,’ he growled, leaning close to Ebenezer. ‘Look after my ma or you’ll regret the day you was born. Understand?’
Ebenezer nodded, rolling his eyes like a scared cur. ‘Yes, mate.’
‘I ain’t going in,’ Shem said in a low voice. ‘She’ll know there’s something wrong if she sees me here at this time of day.’
Essie patted him on the arm. ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure the doctor can prescribe something that will help, and if you all do your bit to take some of the work off her shoulders, she’ll be fine.’
Shem nodded mutely and strode off in the direction of the diggings.
Essie went in first to prepare Leah for the doctor’s visit. ‘There’s someone to see you,’ she said gently. ‘Dr Pardon is going to take a look at you, Leah.’
Ebenezer moved swiftly to Leah’s bedside. ‘Good day to you, madam. And how are you today?’
Leah pulled the sheet up to her chin. ‘I don’t need the likes of you to tell me that me ticker is old and tired.’
‘Now, now, madam. You’re not a medical person so you cannot possibly know what’s wrong with you. Allow me, if you will.’ He prised the material from her tightly clenched fingers and began his examination.
Essie stood back, saying nothing, but her heart was racing. She had grown fond of Leah and the plucky little woman did not deserve to suffer.
After what felt like a lifetime, Ebenezer pulled up the sheet and tucked Leah in. ‘There now, madam, that wasn’t too bad, was it?’
Leah gazed up at him, her eyes round and wide with fear. ‘Am I dying, doctor?’
‘Yes, madam, but not for a good while, I hope. Your heart beats as strongly as that of a ten-year-old, but you are plainly undernourished and exhausted. You must eat better, and stop feeding your menfolk like turkey cocks. They can look after themselves and it’s high time they started looking after you. I’ll tell this to your husband and leave it to him to bring your sons into line.’
‘My boys are good boys,’ Leah said faintly.
‘Said like a true mother.’ Ebenezer rose from the edge of the bed where he had perched and picked up his felt hat, ramming it on his head. ‘I’ll make you up a tonic and give it to that big brute, Shem. Take a teaspoonful three times a day and try to improve your diet. I see hens scratching around outside so a lightly boiled egg and a glass of goat’s milk will work wonders, and share the chores around.’
‘Thank you, Doctor,’ Leah said sleepily. ‘I feel better already.’
Ebenezer surged out onto the veranda, taking deep breaths. ‘I don’t suppose you have anything to drink, do you?’
‘I can make you a cup of tea,’ Essie said, deliberately misunderstanding him. ‘Or the water in the creek is cool and clean.’
‘Thank you, no. I think I’ll decline your kind offer.’ He stepped off the veranda, doffing his hat. ‘Good day, miss.’
Essie hurried after him as he walked off. ‘Is what you said true? She’s just tired and needs rest and good food?’
‘As far as I can tell, yes. I’ve seen these women worn to the bone by child-bearing and hard work. Their menfolk either don’t see what they’re doing, or they don’t care. It’s a brutal existence out here, especially for the female of the species.’ He came to a sudden halt, looking down at her. ‘Take my advice and get away, miss. Go back to wherever you came from before it’s too late.’
‘It’s not that easy.’
He shook his head. ‘It never is, but you’ll end up like her if you remain here and get tied up with one of the fossickers. You’ll be old before your time.’
‘Thank you for your advice, but I don’t intend to stay here any longer than I have to.’
He was about to move on but she barred his way.
‘Do you know Beasley? The creeping man, as they call him.’
‘Everyone knows about the wretched creature. Has he been bothering you?’
‘No, certainly not. In fact he saved my life by killing a snake with his bare hands.’
‘The men think he’s cursed by an evil spirit. Poor superstitious fools.’ He gave her a searching look. ‘If you’re going to ask me to treat him – forget it. There’s nothing I can do and I doubt if he’d welcome my intrusion anyway. Now move out of the way, please, young lady. I have a bottle of rum that urgently needs my attention.’ He staggered away, swaying from side to side as if on the deck of a ship in a stormy sea.
Essie shook her head. She was relieved to think that Leah’s condi
tion was not serious, and she could only hope that her conversation with the Halfpenny brothers would make a difference. As to their father, she had heard him shouting and swearing, coming home at night the worse for drink, and she suspected that his sons were secretly scared of him, as was Leah. Life in the mining camp was hard.
Essie made her way back to the hut to find Sadie on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor while Alice was on the veranda, struggling with the wooden dolly, twisting and twirling it in the washtub as she attempted to beat the dirt out of the clothes. The smell of lye soap and sweat wafted skywards in a damp cloud.
‘Where have you been?’ Alice demanded, wiping the sweat from her forehead on the back of her hand.
‘I had to get the doctor for Leah. She’s not at all well.’
‘Not the man who killed his wife?’ Alice stared at her in horror.
‘You shouldn’t listen to gossip,’ Essie said severely. ‘We don’t know the full story.’
‘D’you mean to say you brought that man here? We might all be murdered in our beds.’
‘Nonsense. He’s just a pathetic drunk, but he was good with Leah, and even if he was wrong about her condition, he made her feel better.’
‘Just keep him away from me, that’s all.’ Alice abandoned her task. ‘Some of this is your washing, Essie. I’d be grateful if you would take over, and that’s an order.’ Alice spoke severely, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.
Essie smiled and pushed her out of the way. ‘If only your friends could see you now, Lady Alice Crozier. They wouldn’t believe their eyes.’
Alice dried her hands on her apron. ‘No, I don’t suppose they would. I’d like to see them put in our position. I doubt if many of them would survive.’
Sadie emerged from the hut carrying a bucket filled with dirty water. She emptied it on the ground and it pooled in the dust. ‘It feels like rain,’ she said, sniffing the air. ‘Your washing won’t dry.’
‘Let’s hope the rain keeps off until it is.’ Alice picked up the wicker basket filled with wet clothes and went to peg them out on the line that Freddie had put up for them.