Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-11-30
A Duel in the Bush.

III VIC o1OAy va A1tAAiy O4totaS "
Life in Australia, We find the follow
ling incident Of Geo. Flower, a ia
nous mounted policeman, who wa
sent out to hunt up notorious busl
ranger named Milligan:
He met Milligan as fellow-ran
ger, who supposed Flower to be dead
After some conversation, Flower said
Now, suppose mounted policeman
or thief-taker-a fellow of real pluck
was to come upon you alone
and was to challenge you to surren'
der, what would you do? would you
draw your trigger at once, and not
give him q chance?'
No. cried Milligan, I'D tell him
to stand off and have a fight for it.
Now, let us suppose continued
Flower, that such a man as that
George Fowler, the fellow that was
drowned the other day, was to be in
the same position with you as | am
now!
I'D tell him, said Milligan, that
one of us must die, and challenge
him to fight fair
'How fight fair?'
why 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. l
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 a man like
Flower or to escape by him in fair
field-either way would be something
to suit me-
'MilIigan,' said Flow or. slowly, i
believe every word you have uttered.
Now listen IN to what / am going to
tell you. l am George Flower!'
Milligan started. lie gazed on
on Flower, whose eyes were riylted
on that of his adversary. Milligan's
carbine dropped from his hand, bu:
he did no change his color or be-
tray any alarm.
Pick vi your piece, said Flower,
pointing to the carbine, and assuming
a proud and careless attitude. 4
am all that you have said about me,
Milligan. / might have shot you
like a dog before | spoke to you just
now; but could not do that, for
YOU are a 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 NIilligan took
Flowers hand, and sighed heavily as
he shook it. sDo you not surrender
suggested Flower, half fearful that
MilIigan " would do so, and break the
very charm that bound him to the
man.
Surrender cried Milligan. with a
smile and d sneer, mo, ii never 90
that. And knowing you to be a
brave foe, / still have a chance Tor !
can shoot rs straight as you do.-
But tell me in earnest,are you George
Flowerq Yes. YOU must be. But
hear this, (his blood began to warm
if Won are not, we must fight this
day for we cannot after this live to-
petber.' And Milligan took up his
carbine a nd satisfied himself that
there was powder in the pan,and with
his left thumb he pushed d the corner
Of. the flint round so as to insure ig-
milton. when he drew the trigger.
Flower placed his carbine against
a huge stone, then put his hands IN
bis pockets and loo ked at Mllllgan.-,
4 am George Flower said he, and !
who but George Flower would deal =.
with you as l do' Don t let US talk
much or I may forget my mission
and become a bush ranger myself.
And Flower took up his carblne, ano
examined his pan and touched TIE
flint as Milligan had done.
Flower, for Flower you must De,
said Milligan: grant me, if you shoot
me, one desire that has haunted me-
| do not dread death, but | feel
a horror OF burial. If | fall, suileI
: no - lii on the very spot. Let the
eagle come and least on my eaiIass'
pluck these eyes from lneif so.he's
and the skin from this brow; let me
die here in this lonely region, and lei
NV homes bleach in the sun, and the
rain fall, and aud the moon ana stars
shine on them.