Dead Men Tell No Tales

By: E. W. Hornung

Narrated by: John Rayburn

This is a story of what could and often did happen during a gold rush to Australia in 1851.

Nothing is so easy as falling in love on a long sea voyage, except falling out of love. Especially was this the case in the days when the wooden clippers did finally land you in Sydney or in Melbourne under the four full months. Passengers and crew all saw far too much of each other, unless, indeed, they were to see still more. Their superficial attractions were mutually exhausted, they lost heart and patience in the disappointing strata which lie between the surface and the bed-rock of most natures. Most had not the faintest intention of falling in love on board. In one instance however, there was a young lady passenger who innocently could change such opinions. Eva Denison was her name, and she cannot have been more than nineteen-years-of-age and was as beautiful as she was young.

It was a time when, in many cases, ship captains and officers as well, would join in the stampede to the diggings. This often led to considerable numbers of masterless and deserted vessels. There were obviously many expecting to make their fortunes, but wound up often confronted by lawless ruffians who cared not how they might benefit by the gold rush. It brought about confused feelings of “what do we do now?” The overall situation was enough to bring about many twists and turns.

We invite you to listen now and find yourself wondering, ”Oh, oh, what next?

Public Domain (P)2023 John D. Rayburn