Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-20
A Duel I'm the Bush.

Duel In the Bush.
In the story Of Emily Oxford, or life in Aus
tralia, we find the following incident of George
Flower, famous mounted policeman, who was
sent out to hunt up notorious bush.ranger,
named Millighan:
He met Millighan as a fellow-ranger-and
who supposed Flower to be dead After some
conversation, Flower said Now, suppose a
| mounted policeman, or thieftaker-a fellow of
real pluck-was to come upon you when you
was alone, and was to challenge you to sur
render, what would you do2 would you draw
your trigger at once, and not give him a
chance.
No. cried Millighan, I'd tell him to stand
off and have fight for it.
Now, let US suppose continued Flower,
that such man as that George Flower, the
fellow that was drowned the other day, was
to be in the same position with you as am
nowr
I'D tell him. said Millighan, that one OF
us must die, and challenge him to fight fair
How fight faira
sWhy, I'd ask him to measure off fifty yards,
to walk backwards FIVE and twenty PAGES, and
let me do the same
and do you think he would do it?'
Yes, do, for he was man. / have often
wished TO see that fellow in the field, for what
/ most want in this life is excitement, and to
be killed by the hand of man like Flower, or
to escape by him in fair feld-either way
would be something to suit me-.
sMillighan, said Flower, slowly, / believe
every word you have uttered. Now, listen to
what am going to tell you. am George
Flowerr
Millighan started. He gazed on Flower,
whose eyes we're now riveted on that of his adj
versary. Millighan's carbine dropped from his
hand, but heldid not change color or betray
any alarm.
Pick up your piece said Flower, pointing
to the carbine, and assuming proud and care
less attitude. : i am all that you have said
about Millighan. / might have shot you like
a dog before / spoke to you just now; but |
could not do that, for you are man as well as
myself, and you are as brave and generous.
Pick up your piece and walk backwards FIVE
and twenty PAGES but let US shake hands
first Millighan took Flowers hand, and
sighed heavily as he shook it. DO you not
surrender, suggested Flower, half fearful that
Millighan would do so, and break the very
charm that bound him to the man.
Surrender cried Millighan, with a smile
and a sheer, mo, I'll never do that. And
knowing you to be brave foe, have still a
chance for / can shoot as straight Us you do.
But tell me in earnest are you George Flower?
| Yes, you must be. But hear this, This blood
began to warm,) if you are not, we must fight
this day. for we cannot after this live together
And Millighan took up his carbine, and salts
fed himself that there was powder in the pan,
and with his left thumb he pushed the corner
Of the flint round so as to insure ignition, when
he drew the trigger.
Flower placed his carbine against huge
stone, then put his hands in his pockets and
looked at Millighan. am George Flower,
said he, and who but George Flower would
deal with you as do7 Don't let us talk much
or may forget my mission and become q bush
ranger myself And Flower took up his car
bine, and examined his pan and touched the
| flint as Millighan had done.
Flower, for Flower, you must be-, said
Millighan; grant me, if you shoot me, one
desire that has haunted me. do not dread
death, but feel a horror Of burial. IL fall
suffer me TO lie on the very spot Let the
eagle come and feast on my carcass, pluck
these eyes from their sockets, and the skin
| from this brow; let me die here in the lonely
region. and let my bones bleach in the sun,
and the rain fall, and the moon and the stars
shine upon them"
my Cod exclaimed Flower, seizing Mill
CHAN by the arm, the same dread of being
buried has ever haunted me. II i fall by your
hand let me rest here, with my head pillowed
upon this gun. Let no man living be shown
the spot where FELL
Take your ground said Millighan, 8 | am
ready
There is my hand said Flower, 'and should
we meet in another world we shall not be
ashamed Of one another, my boyr
"Tears were standing in the eyes Of both
Flower and Millighan when they parted. Each
stepped backwards, pace for pace-Millighan
followed by his terrier, Nettles When they
we're about fifty yards apart, they halted and
looked at each other for several minutes. Both
simultaneously leveled their carbines, but each
was indisposed to be the first to FIRE. At last
Millighan discharged bis piece. He had aimed
at Flowers heart. His bullet wbizzed past
Flowers head, and carried away part of the
left whisker. Flower fred, and Millighan fell
| fat on the face. The ball entered his left
breast. Flower ran to the spot TO catch any
last word Millighan might desire to breathe.
But Millighan was dead"
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