He was only miserly about spending money, that might result to the benefit, or injury, of any one but himself. In the gratification of his own desires, he was a thorough spendthrift. I had heard one of the miners tell a story, illustrative of Bat's disposition. For amusement, the miner had made an experiment, to see, to what extent, selfishness would, as he expressed it, "carry Bat on the way to hell." He enticed this large-souled individual, to go with him on a "spree;" upon which, he treated him five times in succession. Bat had by this time imbibed a strong desire for more drink; and after waiting for some time for his companion to treat him again, he slipped to one side, and took a drink alone--without asking the other to join him. After this, the miner treated him twice more; and not long after, Bat again drank alone, at his own expense! By this time both of them had become pretty well intoxicated; and the spree came to a termination, by Bat's receiving a terrible thrashing from the _convive_, who had been vainly tempting him to spend his money. Bat's mate, the drayman, knew but little about him--only having joined him as a partner the evening before we started for the Avoca. On the first day of our journey, late in the afternoon, we arrived at a roadside grog-shop; and all went in for something to drink. Inside the house, were three ill-looking men, who had the appearance of having once _lived in Van Dieman's Land_. The shop was a very colonial affair; and, after drinking some poison, called rum, we all came out--leaving Bat weighing some gold, which he had taken out of a leather bag, in presence of all the company. It was to pay for a bottle of brandy, which, as we were going to camp out for the night, he had purchased--for the purpose of making himself comfortable. Darkness overtook us about a mile or so beyond the grog-shop; and water being near the place, we resolved to stay by it for the night. Bat came up, just after we had kindled our fire; and drank some tea along with us. He had brought with him two bottles of brandy, instead of one, the second being for his mate, the drayman, who had commissioned him to buy it for him. Seeing these two bottles of brandy in the camp, I did not care about staying on the spot. I believed that the drayman, Bat, and the other digger who accompanied them, would get drunk; and I did not fancy to remain in their company. I took up my blankets; and, going about two hundred yards off from the camp--to a grove of bushes--I rolled myself in my cover, and slept soundly till the morning. At sunrise I awoke; and went back to rejoin my travelling companions. On drawing near the encampment, I saw that something was wrong; and I hastened forward. Bat was not there, but the drayman was, and also the digger. Both were tied with their hands behind their backs, and, furthermore, fastened to the wheels of the dray. I saw that both of them were gagged!