Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-06-14

| when the big ores were scarce. Then som,
times shot might be had at an opossun
q bandy coot, or some other four.footed tel
ant of the woods, which, like the birds, wei
into the frying pan, and was consumed will
out sauce or ceremony.
On the whole, / was not dissatisfied wit
my company, nor particularly pleased whe
found my privacy intruded upon byn strar
ger, One night, on returning home fror
work, | found man lying asleep on my bet
with his hat on and his face buried in hi
arms. / stood for moment in admiration c
his GOODNESS, and then stirred him up with
pick until he awoke.
"Who are you, pray ~ asked.
He turned towards me- and said ats me
Mr. Smith don't You know Gardner2 p
His clothes were in disorder. and his fac,
hagg1rd and dirty; bnt recognised him a
length as o man who, q few weeks before
had been working in the gully, but who hat
been absent since that time. He began t
tell story of how be had gone with part,
TO the Ovens Diggins. then just discovered
lie had met with no luck at the Ovens ant
as he had quarreed with his party, he hat
come to stay with me. This was highly plea
SAINT and satisfactory. / knew nothing O
Mr. Gardner, and was by no means disposed
to have his society thrust upon me in this
manner. l was at loss to understand why
he should have come TO me, for remembered
him as civil.spoken man with whom | had
sometimes exchanged a word, but who had
never shown disposition to court any socie.
ty beyond that of the man with whom be was
working.
However, it would not 90 to turn him out
at once; the night was coming on, and he
| was evidently too much fatigued to go else
where for lodging. lie had sold his tent
and everything belonging TO it, having trus-
ted, as he informed me, entirely to my hospi-
tality. gave him to understand that he was
welcome to the shelter of the hut for the
night but that wished to work alone and
did not want company. He thanked me SO
earnestly for this 5ur!y offer that became
better disposed towards him, especially when
he insisted upon making himself useful, and,
tired as he was. set to work to cook our sup
per. There was, however something strange
about his manner. lie never spoke, unless
in answer to question; and then his reply
was short, and uttered in an odd, incoherent
sort OF way, for which could not account
AS soon as the supper was over lie seated
himself in corner Of the fireplace with his
face buried IN his hands. After while. when
supposed he was falling asleep, Sudden
shver passed over him. and he moved bis po-
self up still more. l asked if he was cold,
and he stared at mo as though surprised at
the question. He was not cold, he said !
advised him 10 turn in and he then got up
and proceeded to heap some logs on the FIRE,
after WHICH he rolled himself in his blankets.
did the same; and, having determined TO
turn my sulky companion out OF doors oh the
morrow, fell asleep.
Next morning, as soon as awoEe, Gardner
called to me in faint voice, and asked me 10
bring him drink Of water. On going to
him, | found that he was in fact too i'll to
move. Durng Tie ua. is iIl">>s i"o"~"end,
and / proposed to 90 to the government
camp for doctor but he begged me not
TO leave him, and insisted that he should soon
be better II seemed TO me that he suffered
moro pain Of mind than Of body, and the con-
vuisive .wtching Of his face, as he lay with
closed eyes in bed, was not q pleasant sight
TO see. lie expressed his gratitude for such
services as | was able TO render him, and was
evidently anxious TO give ne as little trouble
rs possible but when asked him to explain
what aiied him. and to avail himself oi any
knowledge Of medicine l might possess, he
would make no answer, or only say. as before,
that he should soon be better
During the night which followed. | was
awakened by loud groaning. The bed
with mine. and as the fire was still burning
could see his face from where lay. He was
evidently struggling with some fearful dream.
His breast heaved convulsvely; gurgling
note issued from his throat, and presently he
broke out with a cry Of "Nel-Ned!' - several
times repeated | remembered that Gard
ner's mate, with whom he had been working
before he left the gully, was a man commonly
known as Long Ned" who was believed to
have been very successful as digger. This
man had quilted the neghborhood at the
same time as Gardner aud probably in his
company.
got out Of bed for the purpose Of waking
my companion and, having lit q candle, /
saw that the conyulsions were renewed, and
that he presented all the appearance of a
man in fit. l took hold Of his arm and
awoke him. He stared wildly about him as
! did so, and then recognizing me, lie sunk
back with deep sigh of relief
"Gardner," said, where's Long Ned?"
He raised his head with scared look, and
put his hand TO his face.
"Why don't you answer me ?"
"What makes you ask that p he groaned
out
NO matter; do ask it. Where is he p
I'll don't know" be gasped.
felt certain he was not telling the truth (;
and suspicion had occurred to me which /
determined to set at rest at once.
"Iook you, Gardner, | must know what's
the reason of your groaning and crying out in
your sleep. Such dreams as these don't come
to honest men"
"What do you take me forf"
IL believe you have got something on your
mind. i it is anything you dare tell, ad-
wise you to tell it, or shall think the worst.
lie made no reply, and ] continued
"Did Long Ned go to the Ovens along
with you ?"
Don't ask me. CAN'T tell you"
IL ask you again, what's become Of him ?"
He made no reply for some minutes, and
then suddenly raising himself up, he said, 81
will tell you. YOU won't wrong me, will
you ?"
Wrong you why should /? What do
voa mean 7"
Ave got bad story to tell you. and per-
baps you won't believe 1t but it's oil true
Y You asked me where Ned was 2"
well Z" said l. impatiently.
| well, poor Ned's gone; he was murdered
in the bush-not by NEEDN'T look like that.
l didn't do it,"
| Nv companion scanned so much apitated