Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-09-29

lH'toe hH''tEh hh thhih AihEo VI iWD ol iuul
on the first nigh, and that on the second
night, when perfectly sober, he had been
unable TO divest himself of the lea prevl.
ously entertained But after a little con-
sideration. the words, How very singular ?
Involuntary escaped from him.
Go home, Ben said Mr. Grafton, and
lei me see you tomorrow at sunrise. We
will go together to the spot where you saw
the ghost
Mr.. Grafton used to encourage the abn-
rigInal natives of New South Wales, THAT
race which has been apty described, the
last link IN the human chain,D to remain
abou, the premises. At the head of a little
tribe then encamped on Mr. Grailcn's es-
tate, was sharp young man named John
ny Crook. The peculiar faculty of the eb-
original natives of New South Wales Of
tracking the human foot, not only over
grass, but over the hardest rock, and of
tracking the whereabouts of ruuaways. by
signs impercepilbe to civilized ewes, is well
known and this man, Johnny Crook, was
famous IN his skill for this particular art Of
tracking. lie had recently been instrument
tai III the apprehension OF several desperate
bushrangers he had tracked over twenty
seven miles Of rocky country aud field
when they had crossed barefooted, in the
hope Of checking the black fellow in the
progress of his keen pursuit with his horse
police
/ When old Bon Weir made his appearance
in the morning, at Mr. Graltou's house, the
black chief, Johnny Crook, was summoned
To attend. He came, and brought wilh HIM
several of his subjects. The party set out,
old Wier showing the way. The leaves on
the branches of the saplngs which he had
broken on the first night of seeing the
ghost were withefed, and sufficiently point
ed out the exact rail on which the phantom
was represented to have sat There were
stains upon the rail Johnny Crook, who
had then no idea Of what he was required
for. pronounced these stains to be 'whiie
maus blood ); aud after searching about for
sometime, he pointed to a spot whereon lie
said a human body had been laid.
In New South Wales long droughts are
not very uncommon, aud not single show
er Of sain had fallen for seven months pre-
ylously sufficient, even, TO lay The
dust upon the roads.
la consequence of the time that had clap
sed, Crook had no small difficulties to con-
teud with; but IN two hours he succeeded
IN tracking the footsteps OF one man 10 the
unirequeuted side of a pond at some dis
lance. lie gave IT as his opinion tina,
another man had been dragged thliher-
The savage walked ronnd aud round the
pond, eagerly examining its borders, and
the scdges and weeds spriuging up around
It, At first he seemed baffied. No clue
had been washed ashore to show that any
thing unusual had been sunk IA the pond I;
but having finished his examination he Land
himself down on his face, and looked keen
w along the surface of the smooth and stag
nant water. Presently he jumped up, Ut
tered a cry peculiar to the natives when
grallhed by finding some long sought object.
clapped has hands, aud pointing to the md
die Of the pond where decomposition Of
some suuken substance had produced a
Shiny coating streaked with prIsmaiic colors,
he exclaimed White mans far
The pond was Immediately searched, and
below the spot indicated, the remains Of a
body were discovered. A large stone aud a
rolled silk handkerchief were found near
the body these had been used to sink il,
That II was the body OF Fisher there
could be no. doubt. 1t might have been
identified by the teeth but on the wal.tcoat
there was some large brass buttons, which
were Immediately recognized both by Mr.
Grafton aud Ben Weir, as Fishers proper
y. He had worn these buttons on his
wai>icuat Tor several years.
Leaving the body by the side ufthe pond
with old Ben and the blacks to guard It, Mr.
Grafton cantered up 10 Fishers house. It
was about mile aud a half distant He
inquired fol Mr.. Smith Mr.. Smith, who
was at breakfast, came out, and invited Mr..
Grafton to alIght, which he dad and after a
few desul.ory observations, SAID
Mr.. Smith, | an anxious To purchase i
piece OF land on the other side of the road
belonging To thIs estate, and | would give a
tar price for II; have YOU the power TO sell
ar
On yes sir replied Smith, The pow
er which | hold from Fisher is general
power aud he forthwith produced docu-
menl purporlng TO be signed by Fisher, but
which was not witnessed.
'lf you are not very busy, should like
to show you the piece OF land alude to,
said Mr.. Grafton.
'Oh, certainly, sir, | am quite at your
service, SAID Smith aud then he ordered
bis horse TO be saddled.
IL was necessary TO pass the pond where
the remains of Fishers body were exposed
When they came near the spot Mr.. Grafton,
looking Smith foil IN the face said,
Mr.. Smith, wish to show you some
thinp-look here.
lie then pointed to the decomposed body,
and narrowly watching Mr.. Smiths counle-
ance, he added
These are the remains of Fisher. How
do you account for their being found IA this
pond ?
Smith, with the greatest GOODNESS, got off
his horse, minulely examined the remains,
aud then admitted that there was no doubt
they were Fishers. He confessed himself
at loss to account for their discovery, un-
less il could be he said) somebody had
wayiaid him on the road when he left home
/ for Sydney had murdered him for his gold
aud bank-uotes which he had about his per
son, aud had thrown him into the pond.
My hands, thank heaven. he concluded
are clean. Il my old friend could come to