New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-06-09

I1(c aperture more securely ptttte w wv stee-
hourbArse u tie fireplace, 70 give tee neI'ee o.
any attempt at ing1ess by way q ne ehm ,s
Insensibly, sleep oye1powered him, and ne was
irowsilv n0ddinc when The load and angry marking
Of the dog Indicated the approach Of some new peril
Starting up. Jim listened with that pIen pay,
acute sense Of hearing which nothing put tne con-
seriousness Of danger can possibly induce. Ing only
so,,nd that reached him was the rusting OF leaves,
s.ch AZ roud be produced by the wind sweeping
throuch he trees, Sandie still barked, Repairing
Is the Ioophole, jim gazed out for information.
Nothing met his gaze IN that dirseuon pus sne rust
Feeling uneasy, he cautiously opened another chnk
/ II the rear Of the hut, and peered forth.
For few moments jim fairly doubted the evi.
deDce Of bis eyesight. 1t was when Birnam Wood
marched towards Dunsinane. Not living soul could
he perceive but line of great bushes were advanc
ing-a apparently OF their own accord-to the hut
Jim scfsped the hole little larger; and when the
strange procession came within range, he discharged
his gun at IT, Instantly all the bushes fell prostrate
and the sayages emerged from their leafy covert.
With shout, which blended the scream of pain and
rage with the hoarse cry for vengeance, the blacks
ran forward dragging the bushes after them. Ia
second the latter were piled against the walls Of the
hut and transient silence followed, during which
the captive was left to speculate On the object Of the
maueuver.
His doubts (if he had any) were soon resolved. A
peculiar cracking sound succeeded by broad glare
OF light percephble through the crannies OF the ifa
tenement, informed him that the terrors OF fre had
been brought against him. The natives had been
into the ranges in search Of dry boughs; and with
these, mingled with the inlammabe resinons branch
es OF the gum trees, they now propose to burn MN
out of his shelter Bitterly he regretted not having
taken advantage Of their short absence TO effect bis
escape. 1t was now too late. For short space ne
remained in state Of stupefacton, utterly over
vhelned by the increased horrors of his situation.
As the flames cuught the dry, combustible wall and
bark roof he deemed himself utterly lost and it
was only by violent effort that he atlengh shook of
the henumbing influence Of thu intense terror which
had seized upon him.
A little reelection convinced him that in one bold
effort lay his sole chance Of preservation Recon
motoring the premises be observed that the flames
were confined TO the rear and roof Of the hat
Through the chink in the front wall he perceived the
sayages lying in wait near the door, but occupying
such position az TO be out Of reach Of the firearms
" They thought to smoke me out as they do the
wombats,n said Jim, I" and to spear me as crawled
out Of my den but / determined to have another
trial for ii, and If died to die like man. in the
open air.
Setting small bar Of tough wood, he inserted IL
between the blazing slabs at the rear and found that
they readily yielded to his efforts The dense smoke
now filed the hnt and the burning embers from the
all. save life, itself, he stripped of his blae serge
frockan article which serves the bushman for shirt,
vest coat and paletot all in oneand carefully wrap
ped It round the lock Of the gun. He then, by a
vigorous effort detached two OF the slabs from their
upper fastenings, and stealthily drew them within
the hut--the silent noise attending this operation
being disguised by the cracking OF the burning tim
Der. Gazing through the surrounding belt Of fire aud
smoke, he discovered that none OF his enemies
were in view all Of them, as he had anticipated,
being collected on the opposite side Of the hut. Now
was the momentfor escape One danger yet remained
to be obviated How to still the furi0us barking oil
the dog he knew not yet this would at once aequaint
/ the savages with his escape, when instant pursuit
| and death would inevitably be the result. It was
therefore, absolutely necessary to Sande In the
hut. & could not bear the thought OF doing this,
4. rAa. ~,
seemed so cruel to the poor faithful brute" Still
secrecy and silence were Indispensable the first great
law of nature -selEpreservation crushed the gene
rons impulses Of sentiment and the dog was sacri
atf0rdng the animal at least chance Of escape Jim
tied him up with cotton handkerchief only, in the
hope that bis exertions would enable him TO free
himself before the entry Of the savages
This done, Jim took up his gun and stepped ou
through the flames. As he emerged, one Of the ma
tges eded around the corner, and surprised by the
intended victims unexpected appearance stood for
moment rresolute. Before he could speak or move
Jim feed him to the earth with a blow Of bis fist
and without waiting for the result darted or under
| cover Of the dense smoke, for the ranches.
| He had surmounted the first tier, and crossing
the valley beyond when The ontcries OF the blacks
proclaimed that his flight had been discovered The
hope OF yet saving his life lent wings to his feet
and at any rate he had considerably the start Of his
| pursHers. Before he had proceeded very far some
| thing came dashing through the scrub behind him
| great delight it was the dog.
Onward sped the two fugitives, the man and the
| dog Ten bush-mies lay between them and safety
and the pursuers were light of foot and fleet Of limb
| Jim had not tasted food since midday he was ia
tigued with toll and watching, and suffered much
pain from numerous burns on his arms and shoulders
But hunger thirst. wearness and pain were AL tenn
ertion and as mile after mile was passed without an,
evidence Of pursuit. hope, which never deserts the
1 brave, grew stronger In the fngitive's heart.
| Although no indication OF the natives were appa
rent, Jim was too well acquainted with their nature
and habits to relax his speed Willy as serpents and
as noseess, too they might be close at hand, yet in
visible. Onward, therefore, he few life was In
front death near behind How far, or during what
time, he continued his flight Jim could never tell
He believed that he was approaching the head
station yet nowhere could be discern the traces o.
any human habtation.. At length, fatgued ant
breathless, be was compelled to pause Had the saw
ages been yelling at his heels, he could not have pro
ceeded.
He sought the shelter OF rocky mound, near a
hand. and lay down in its dark shadow, intending
10 rest for brief interval only but he unwarill
sunk into deep sleep.
From that dangerous slumber Jim Walker woul,
probably never have awoke in this world but for thu
faithful guardianship Of his dog Sande. Aroused b,
the barking Of that vigilant companion, he opened
his eyes just as the grey light OF morning wa
spreading over the horizon. Above his head tb
rock rose perpendicular TO height Of about fifteel
feet Over the margin appeared human head
which caught his startled gaze as he awoke. Instinct
lively he recognised the presence OF his pursuers
The sayages had tracked him to his hidng.place
Sprnging to bis feet, he darted forward with re
newed velocity and as he did so, a spear whizze
by close to him. Jim felt that he had thrown ava
another chance Of life by hating in the open couu
try Shelter there was none; for the track of fgh
now lay over treeless plain. Again and agai
spears glanced by him, and looking around he SO,
that he was pursued by three savages one Of whor
was considerably in advance of the other. With SC
teeth and straining muscles, the hunted man presse
ttfn artIn Ill