CHAPTER XVI.
June, 1863.—One afternoon a few minutes before three, our usual closing hour, two men, well-mounted, rode up to the bank, hung up their horses outside, and both came into the office. Inside the front door was a green baize swing door, which was always closed; one of them walked up to the counter, the other remaining just inside the inner door. My assistant (Mr. Deacon) asked the man at the counter what he could do for him. He seemed confused, fumbled about in his pocket, and at last said, “I want a draft on Forbes for £4,’ at the same time producing four one-pound notes. I remarked to Deacon, when I saw the men coming up to the bank, that I thought they were up to no good. I stationed myself behind the gold-scales, which were in a large glass case. This had been placed over them to prevent John Chinaman from manipulating and blowing into them. Revolver in hand, I kept my eyes on the man at the door, and watched him the whole time. The draft written out and signed, away they went. When they had gone we compared notes, and were both satisfied that they were bushrangers. Next day, about the same time, the two men came in again. The same scene was enacted, and what do you think they wanted? They had changed their minds, were not going to Forbes, and wanted the money back for the draft.' This was given to them, they took their departure, and we never saw or heard of them again.
29th June.—Sticking up in all directions; no less than four storekeepers bailed up in one day, viz., Messrs. Howard, Murphy, Tom Copeland, and Emanuel. Monday, in Burrangong, was the great collecting day with the storekeepers, who used to visit the neighbouring diggings, and collect amounts due to them by the small storekeepers, publicans, &c. One day about this date four or five of them went together. Johnnie Murphy was one of the number, and Emanuel’s representative (a young man named Cohen) another. The last named was the only one of the party who was armed, and was continually telling his companions what he would do if they met the bushrangers. They had visited the Ten Mile and other places, and were returning home by the main road, when suddenly, at the top of a slight rise, there appeared
