Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-10

with him, felt the most perfect confidence
10 my own resources. having long been
considered an excellent marksman with
the pistol.
Ny resolution being thus formed. 1 pro-
ceeded to the sitting-rOom, and was not
much surprised to hear that Mr.. Holder
had left the ion.
4 hardly know what to think of that
man. observed one of the neighbors. he is
here to day and gone tomorrow. Besides
he calls himself a settler on the Hawkes.
bury; now | know the Hawkesbury well
enough, and am certain that three months
since there was no settler of that name
there; and yet our landlord tells US that he
has been fequenting his house for the
pact eight months, saying this and saying
the other, and yet l cannot find that be
ever bought single grain of wheat, with
all his talk
1 don't half like that excuse Of his. said
John Brown, about going up to the cOun-
try to buy maize. This is not the time of
the year for that work besides, couldn't
he have samples sent to him, like all other
purchasers. You did right, Mr.. Stanfield,
not to go with him-be spends his money
too freely to get it honestly
The hour having arrived at which it was
intended that | should start, l called for
my bill, which betok0ned honest Johns
moderation in charges, and the horse being
at the door, was about to mount, when
the landlord requested to speak with me
privately.
Mr.. Staufeld,' said the honest fellow,
you are yet unacqu8inted with the man.
ner OF these bushrangers, and am inclin-
ed to suspect this Mr. Holder 80 be ONE
do not suppose that any of them would
murder you unless you desperately resisA
ted. 1t is not their fashion to kill stran-
gers, but only these settlers against whom
they have some grudge, or who have many
prisoners in their employ. / would there
fore advise you to leave any money you
may have by with me- if it is large sum,
and only take as much as would satisfy
the Williams. Ifyou should meet with any
of them, and be inclined to resist, don't
stand parlying with them, but FIRE at once.
Depend on it, that's the only way to get
Off
Thanking the landlord for his advice,
and informing him l had but q trifing
sum with me, babe him q hearty fare
well, and proceeded on my journey in
conformity with the directions furnished
me:
The path had to travel was truly a col
itary one, and shortly after reaching Matt
land, it commenced a drifting shower.
which in despite of my travelling cloak soon
wetted me to the skin. The sear-crisp
leaves. too, rUstlsd across the road, adding
dreariness to the scene. Besides, l was
Ignorant OF the track, and no emotion can
be more unpleasing than that of having a
long journey before you, while overv step
you progress is troddeu with uncertain,y.
This feeling becomes bitterly painful to
the traveller IN vast forests, where. if once
lost, small indeed, is the probability of
meeting with any hut or hamlet, at which
you might apply for directions concerning
your route. l strenulously endeavored,
however, rs / rode under the withered and
wide spreading branches of aged trees that
oveTshadowed the path. and rendered the
track hardly 2erceptible, to raise my spirs
Its, but the effort was useless. The deep
gloom that prevailed, the loneliness &C the
IIace, the uncertainty Of the mind, and the !
dismal aspect OF surrounding objects, struck |
cc!dly upon my heart. Then, too, was |
mOmentarily in expectation of being eu- |
gagged in a conflict, whereby one must die. |
with remorscless desperate. Often was /
l at the pointing the head of my horse, and |
retracing my steps; but pride Invariably |
i9terposed, and would not permit me to |
carry the procedure into effect | was !
thus wavering and irresolute, when my
feelings were fairly aroused by my atten- |
ton being directed to circumstance Of !
more Immediate import.
This was some object tn It could not be |
defined IN the obscuIaty OF the forest, but !
was evidently moving in a parallel line |
with myself. The sight was more than
sufficient to put me on my guard. TO
loosen the holsters aud abstract the pistols
was but the work of moment. These |
concealed under my cloak in such q man
ner as to be ready for instantaneous use,
and then calmly away the result. In order,
however, to discover if my suspicious were
well grounded, spurred on my horse to a
sharp canter, and remarked that my exam
pie was Immediately followed by the object
in the forest. In this manner l progressed
a lev miles, when, az an opening in the
bush, which would not admit of further>
cOncealment, the figure came galloping in
the path, and, as l fully expected, the
so distant Mr.. Hulder rode up alongside Of
me.
We'll, Mr.. Stanfeld,' said he, $50 I see
that you are upon your journey, and n wet
day you have for it, too
i am so, Mr.. Holder,' returned l, look
ing intently at his countenaDce, and find
the roads sufficiently difficult without rid
ing for miles in the bush, among fallen
timber
'Ob, said the bushranger (for so I must
now term him), as frown overspread his
cOuutensnce, Il lost my way, and
And that accounts for your riding so
many miles along side of me- interrupted
l.
I suppose every man may please him
SELF said the robber.
of course they may, and it is therefore
my pleasure to ride alone
But suppose l think proper to ride
with you few miles he iron lcally rejoin-
ed.
i DO not choose to keep company with
murderer was the cool reply.
'Ha murderer laid pray, young
ster,' surlily observed the villain, throwing
off all reserve; how do you know that I'm
a murderer
do you imagine / marked not the de
mQniac scowl that followed the aged harm
less man whom you murdered last night?
Had you no feelings of mercy on his silvery
hairs or his utter helpIessness COwardly
assassin continued |, in an excited voice,
you were the murder, too, of that unOffen-
eing boy, William Clementine. | know
you we'll now, and ere we part you shall
render to me dear bought account ofyour
aetiOns.'
And who am I, then?' growled the
bushranger, as he Vainly essayed to laugh
scornfully at my threats, while his bosom
was inflated with rage.
'Donohue-that demon whose career is
sodden with blood
cts false vociferated the assassin false
as hell Yes! l murdered that old fool
of man for imprecating on my head and
l hated him because he was liked. l muir
dered, too, that sickly boy they called
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