The Kanzas news., 1858-08-07


and breathless, be was compelled to pause
Had the sayages been yelling at his heels,
ne could not have proceeded
He sought the shelter of rocky mound
near at hand, and lay down in its dark
shadow, intending to rest for brief inter-
val only. But he unwarily sank into a
deep sleep. From that dangerous slumber,
jim Walker would probably never have
aWoken in this world, but for the faithful
guardianship of his dog Sandie. Aroused
oy the barking of that vigilant companion,
ne opened his eyes just as the gray light Of
morning was spreading over the horizon
Above his head the rock rose perpendicu.
lariy to the height of about fourteen feet
Over the margin appeared human head,
which caught his startled gaze as he awoke.
Instinctively he recognised the presence OF
hls pursuers. The savages had tracked
him to his hiding place. 3
Springing to his feet, be darted forward
with renewed velocity; and as he did so, a
spear whizzed by close to him. Jim felt
that he had thrown away another chance of
life by haltlng in the open country Shell
ter there was none; for the track of fight
lay now over treeless plain. Again and
again spears glanced by him, aud looking
round, he saw that he was pursued by three
savages, one of whom was considerably in
advance of the others. With set teeth and
straining muscles, the hunted man pressed
on. desperation and agony in his. soul. The
savages rapidly gained upon him, and al
though stern chase is always long chase,
nothing could prevent their closing with
him before many minutes elapsed.
Suddenly he turned and fired at the near
est black. The shot was fatal. With a
loud screech the savage leaped up into the
air and fell to the earth mortaly wounded
Almost Immediately thereupon a faint
sound, as of the bleating of sheep, reached
the fugitlve's ear. He was near assistance.
He strove to shout aloud, but his voice failed
A low hill was before him, and in the val
ley beyond was the home station; could he
but reach which, his life was safe. The
space was short, but into that space were
crowded unnumoered hopes and fears
The sayages were fast nearing him. Once
more turning round, he fred, and in the
excitement of the moment, missed. 1t was
his last shot. and now in his speed lay the
last remaining chance of escape.
He scarcely dared to hope. yet mechan-
ically continued to fly. A thousand wan
dering thoughts of happy days, of boyish
sports benea, an English sky, fond remi-
niscences of home, and recoilections of a
mothers love-a mother too early LOST
passed with wondrous rapidity before his
mental vision, he said in the brief, agoniz-
ing moments of that fearful struggle for
life
He reached the hill unframed, and had
accomplished nearly half the ascent, when
spear entered his shoulder, and threw him.
stunned and bleeding, to the ground. The
next moment the savages were upon him.
Sandie. faithful to the last. flew at the
throat of the nearest foe. and forced him,
back to the earth. Frightened at this novel
assailant, the fellow shrieked for help. and
with single blow of his tomahawk, his
comrade laid the honest brute senseless and
disabled. But the temporary diversion in
Jim's favor saved Jim's life.
As the savages turned from the dog to
their human victim. bangt bang! came two
shots from the summit of the hill, and sew
eral white mem rushed forward TO their res
cue. The hunters now became the hunted;
and need scarcely add that neither of them
escaped.
The last shot fired by Jim had fortunate
ly been heard by shepherd employed at
the head station; apprehensive of danger, he
Immediately aroused the other men. Little
time was lost in dressing. for the simple
reason that bushmen seldom undress; and
starting in the direction of the hill, they ar
rived just in time to deliver Jim from the
hands of his enemies.
The spear-wound in Jim's shoulder speed
lily healed, and Sandie, although long des
paired of. eventually recovered from the eff
fects of the savsge's tomahawk. A percsp-
ible limp always remained to bear witness
of his courageous attack, and surely Jim
was right in saying that Sandie's lame leg
was as honorable to the noble dog as scars
to soldier. He was of little use after
wards as sheep dog, but Jim would not
part with him. He elevated him to the
rank of special pensioner. and never ate
himself until he had fed the companion of
that eventful night.
/ may add. that party sent over to the
old hut found it burntito the ground, and
all the sheep driven off. With the assis-
lance of neighboring settlers, the greater
part of the flock was ultimately recovered;
but not until after many days hunting for
them. and several sanguinary encounters
with the Tatiara blacks Wherein more than
one European received wounds.
The Gloucester Nssas tell the story of 9
boy in one of the schools in that town who