The weekly union record., 1865-09-23
Red jim.
AN AUSTRALIAN STORY

eud of February, 1863 A: thai Is 10 say the
bush grass lay long dead amid mOveless trees,
or upon level tiresome plains; the heated air
quivered against the low horizon, aud danced
above the wi,hered verdlre like the surround
ings of furnace. There had been long
season Of drought Nothing but dry water
beds, distressed iocks. and wandering cattle,
were to be seen anywhere; sometimes the
black heavy masses of smoke would roll along
the distant sky, and cloud the glazing sun TO
crimson. Sometimes in the close hight flush,
far and faint, told that the CONGREGATIONS which
had not yet reached Us were sweeping many
an acre of brush or pasture lard. That was
a Summer | shall never forget Day after
day the same bright dazzling sky, lbe scorched
hills and plains, the weary irritating sense of
prostration. l watched the poor half mad
dened sheep, weeks upon weeks with painful
sense of duty which is present TO me even now.
There was little feed they could eat and still
less of filthy stagnant water in the.sole muddy
pool on which they depended as their last re-
source. Lstlessly | watched them. until be
gan to experience fierce irritable longing for
rain that haunted me day ard night like a
coming mania. Some nights threw myself
down outside the hut and tried to sleep, but
could 6nd no rest the still hot atmosphere
kept up the fever heat that was coming upon
me, and my slumber Was ever broken used
to envy the old station horse they had left for
my use, when heard him nlbhug among the
grass in the darkness of the night, and snort
ing satisfaction that the SUI had passed the
hazy bills. After time began to loath the
weary walk home, and. taking with NE an ex-
ira supply of tea and damper, made practice
of camping where the sheep camped visiting
my hut only as the vagares of the flock led
me to It's vicinity then repenlshed my stock
and left with the sheep again. am sure
had fever and would soon have become delir-
ious, for had nothing to relieve the frightful
neutrality-suspicious. the same brazen sky, the
dead swelterDg heat, the motionless forest. the
strange murmuring Of the wilderness, like the
faint whispering of seashell.
One night l was lying tossing about in the
long grass in box swamp, not mile from
my hut. | chose the place because the ground
was ccolOr there than on the unsheliered plain;
and as | looked up to the dull starlight, |
thought of many of my boyish remembrances
and soon felt that | was weeping what time
they surged up dimly and tenderly. How l
forged for the bleak sky, the cold bracing
winds, and the sleety rain of home How
longed for the patteriug fall of rain on the
windows, and the Winter comfort of the bright
hearthstone. Somehow during these longiDgs
heard Winter songs again, and loud words,
and laughter.
| awoke with a sudden start to see not
twenty yards from me, three men hobblpg their
horses, and speaking to each other about some
bush fire. l could hardly pursuade myself
that was not still dreaming.
One of the men was soon engaged in light
ing fire on a bare patch of grouad, aud l
was about rising to join them and taste OF
companionship once more, when column OF
fame started up suddenly and displayed face
that caused me to shrink back again, with
mutlered thanksgiving that was not dlscoy.
cred. The face that the fire revealed was
known to me at once, though had never seen
it before. The one eye and hair lip of Red
Jim had been freely spoken about in every
sheppard's but on the surrounding stations
There was 20 installing him. The bull dog
forehead, the heavy jaw, and the thick neck
were features that 10 themselves would have
sufficiently pointed out the identity of this
escaped convict. Recalling the man now, as
| saw him then, think never bebeld so per,
feet an impersonaiion of bad criminal. 1t
was well known that Red Jim had escaped
from penal seFvitude, accompanied by three
others, but had arrived in this colony alone. 1t
was equally well known that he could only
have survived the incredible journey by canni-
balism. Red Jim had ruthlessly murdered one
or two settlers against whom be entertained
grudge, and every effort was being at that time
made 10 capture him. There was noihug re-
markable in the faces of bis companions. They
simply showed by word and feature all the evi
dences of ruf1ianism usual in men of their class.
They had coarse long limbs and heavy reckless
faces. scared into revolving harshness by long
series of crimes. Two of them were armed
with guns.
These thoughts and observations passed
through my mind in much less time than it
takes TO write them. | was speedily recalled
from speculation by bearing the word Hal
lelujah used. Hallelujah was the sobriquet
given to my master because of bis strictly ad-
herring to the habit of reading prayers in the
family, morning and evening. Mr.. Christmas
was kind, benevolent man, respected by every
hand Oh the station and by no more than my