Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-05

admit the muzze of his gun, and in such DO
sition as to command the approaches to the
door. By the clear starlight he perceived
some ten or twelve naked savages grouped in
front. Again yelling hideously, they rushed
forward for another assault. As they came
on, Jim leyelled his piece, and fired both bar
rels. In all probability this saved the door
for two of the assailantS fell screechng to the
ground, and the shock was but slight. Stuff
cient damage, however was inflicted to break
the upper hinges, and force the door from its
proper position.
Sandie, more vaorous than prudent, sprang
into the breach thus formed, and was thrust
down by his master just in time to escape a
shower of spears which the enraged blacks
hurled at the opening. The jeopardy from
these weapons was now imminent but by a
vigorous effort, Jim pushed the door into an
erect position, and re- secured it with poles has
tily torn from the rough buukS, or sleeping
berths Of the hut. Then reloading his gun
he repaired to his impromptu oophole.
lie had done mischief to his wild enemies
Their wounded had been carried into the scrub
and small party came wariy out to recon
noitre. Creeping round the side of the hut
they came on again, but this time no yell pre-
ceded the assault. Before they reached the
door, Jim fired in amongst them, and again
they retreated bowling like wild beasts
After this, all was quiet for nearly an hour
and Jim even began to hope that he was rid
of his prosecutors. To make all sure, how
ever, he closed the little aperture more secure
ly, shored up the door with every available
piece of timber, and placed an old flour bar.
rel in the fireplace, TO give due notice of any
attempt at ngress by way of the chimney.
InsensibIy, sleep overpowered him, and he
was drowsiIy nolding, when the loud and an
CRY barking of the dog, indicated the approach
of some new peril. Starting up, Jim listened
with that preternaturaIly acute sense of hear
ing which nothing but the consciousness of dan
ger can possibly induce. The only sound that
reached him was the ruStling of the leaves, such
as would be produced bv the wind sweeping
through the trees Sandic still barked Re
pairing TO the lOophOle jim gazed ont for IN
formation. Nolhing met his gaze in that di-
rection but the rusting wind-Iike sounds APP
proach nearer and nearer. Feeling uneasy, he
cautiously opened another chink at the rear
Of the hut, and peered forth.
For few seconds Jim fairly doubted the
evidence of his eyeSight. 1t was as when
Bruam Wood marched towards Dunsnane.
Not living soul could he perceive but a
line of great bushes were acknowledgement
rently of their own accord-to the hut Jim
Scraped the hole little larger and, when
the strange procession came within range, he
dScarged his gun at it. Instantly, all the
bushes fell PROSTATE ; and the Savagcs emerged
from their leafy covert. With shout which
blended the scream of pain and rage with the
hoarSe cry for vengeance, the blacks ran for
ward, dragging the bushes after them. In a
second the latter were piled against the walls
of the hut and a transient silence followed,
during which the captive was left to speculate
on the object of this manpuvre.
His doubts, Cf he had any were soon re-
solved. \ peculiar cracking sound, succeeded
by broad glare of light, perceptble through
, the crannieS of the fra tenement, informed
him that the tcIors of fire had been brought
, to bear against him. The natives had been
into the ranges in search Of dry boughS and
, with these, mingled with the inAammabe resi-
nous branches of the gum trees. they now pro-
posed to burn him out of his shelter Bitterly
he regretted not having taken advantage of
their short absence to effect his escape 1t
was now too late For a short space he re-
manned in state of stupefcation utterly
overwhelmed by the increased horrors Of his
situation. As the flames caught the dry com
bustible wall, and bark roof, he deemed him,
self utterly lost ; aud it was only by violent
effort that he, at length, shook off the benun
bing influence of the intense terror which had
seized upon him.
A little reflection convinced him that in
one bold effort lay his sole chance of preser
5 vation. Reconnoltering the premises, he OBJ
: served that the flames were confined to the
rear and roof Of the hut Through the chink
in the front wall, he perceived the savages y-
ing in wait near the door but occupying such
position as to be out of the reach of fire
arms. They thought to smoke me out, as
they do wombats," said jim, " and to spear
| me as / crawled out Of my den but | deter
mined to have another trial for it, and if | died
to die like man, in the open air"
, Selling a small bar of tough wood, he in
: serted it between the blazing slabs at the rear
: and found they had already yielded to his ef-
forts The dense smoke now filled the hut
and the burning emberS from the roof fell
around him in showers But regardless of all
: save life ITSELF he stripped off his blue serge
frock-an article which serves the bushman
! for shirt, vest, coat, and paletot all in one
f aud carefully wrapped it around the lock OF
, the gun. He then, by vigorous effort, de
! tached two of the slabs from the upper faSten-
ings, and stealthily drew them within the hut
: the ght noise attending this operation be-
( ing disguised by the cracking of the burning
1 timber. Gazing through the surrounding belt
/ of fire and smoke he discovered that none OF
E his enemies were in view all Of them-aS he
f had ipated-being collected on the oppo
: site side of the hut. Now was moment for
E escape. One danger yet remained to be obvi,
D ated How to still the furious barking of the
/ dog he knew not yet this would at once ac-
quaint the savages with his escape when in,
| slant pursuit and death would inevitably be the
: result 1t was, therefore. absolutely neceSsa