The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-08-03
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RED jim.
AN AUSTRALIAN STORY.

. rs
AN AUSTRALIAN STORY.
Five and twenty years ago it was such 8
summer. here in Victoria as it now is in the
end of February, 1865 that is to say, the
bush grass lay long and dead amid moveless
trees, or upon level tiresome plains the
heated air quivered against the low horizon,
and danced above the withered verdurs lik.
the surroundings of furnace. There had
been long season of drought. Nothing
but dry water beds, distressed focks, and
wandering cattle, were to be seen anywhere;
sometimes the black heavy masses of smoke
would roll along the distant sky, and cloud
the glaring sun to crimson. Sometimes III
the close night flush, far and faint, told
me that the conhagrations which had not
yet reached US were sweeping many an acre
Of brush or pasture land. That was sum
mer shall never forget Day after day
the same dazzling bright sky, the scorched
the weary irritating sense of prostration.
watched the poor half rpaddened 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 resource. Listless they coiled in
the shade aud listlessly watched them, un
til began to experience fierce irritable
longing for rain that haunted me day and
night like coming mania. Some nights
/ threw myself down outside the hut and
tried to sleep, but could find no rest; the
hot atmosphere kept up the fever that was
coming upon me, and my slutnber was ev-
er broken, used to envy the cid station
horse they bad just left for my use, when
heard him nibbling among the grass in the
darkness of the night, and snorting salts
faction that the sun had passed the hazy
hills. After time began to loathe the
weary walk home, and, taking with me an
extra supply of tea and darnper, made a
practice of camping where the sheep camped;
visiting my hut only as the vagaries of the
flock led me to its vicinity; then [ replen-
ished my stock and left with the sheep
again. am sure had fever, and would
have soon been delir:ous, for had nothing
to relieve the frightful monotony-always
the same brazen sky, the dead sweltering
heat the motionless forest, the strange muir
murings of the wilderness. like the flint
whisperings of a sea shell.
One night was lying tossing about the
long grass of box-swamp, not a mile from
my hut chose the place because the
ground was cooler there than on the unshel-
tered plain, and as | looked up to the dull
starlight, l thought of many of my boyish
remembrances and soon felt that was
weeping what time they surged up diinly
and tenderly. How longed for the bleak
sky. the cold bracing wind, and the sleety
rain of home How longed for the patter
ing fall of rain on the windows, and the
winter comforts of the bright hearthstone.
Some how these longings wove in my
thoughts, and in partial dream heard
winter songs again, and loud words, and
laughter.
| awoke with sudden start to see, not
twenty yards from me, three men holding
their horses, and speaking to each other
about some bush lire. / could hardly per-
suade myself that l was not still dreaming
One of the men was soon engaged in light
ing fire on bare patch of ground, and
was about rising to join them and taste of
companionship once more when a column
of fame started up suddenly and displayed
face that caused Inc to shrink back again,
with muttered thanksgiving that / was
not discovered. The face that the fire re-
vealed was known to me at once, though
had never seen it before. The one eye and
hair lip of 'Red Jim" had been freely spo
ken about in every shepherds hut on the
surrounding stations. There was no mis-
taking him. The bull dog forehead. the
heavy jaw, and the thick neck, were fea
lures that in themselves would have sufh
GENTLY pointed out the identity Of this es-
capped convict. Recalling the man now as
! saw him then, think never beheld so
perfect an impe sonation Of bad criminal.
1t was well known that Red Jim had es
capped penal servitude, accompanied by
three others, but had arrived In this colony
alone. 1t was equally well known that ne
eould only have survived the incredible
Journey by caDnibalsm. Red Jim had
ruthleesy murdered one or two settlers
against whom he entertained a grndge, and
every effort was being at that time made to
capture him. There was nothing remarka
able i'll the faces of his companions They
simply showed 10y word and feature all the
evidences of rufaanism usual in men of their
GLASS. They had coarse long limbs and
heavy reckless faces, scared into revolving
harshness by a long series of crimes. Two
of them were armed with guns.
These thoughts and observations passed
through my mind in much less time than il
takes to write them. was speedily recall
ed from speculation by hearing the wore
"Hallelujan" used. Hallelujah was the
sobriquet given to my master because O
bis strictly adhering to the habit of reading
prayers in the family morning and evening
MIR. Christmas was kind benevolent man
respected by every hand on the station; ant
by none more than myself. He had beef
very co 1lsiderate to me in late illness, an,
often sought by many subsequent attention
to cheer the loneliness ofmy employment
One of Red Jinl's companions, in answer t
something Red Jim said, replied with a
oath:
Eyes, we'll see if his psalm singing wi
save him now"
Then the other said: There are coup
lie of women there, and we shall have tim
to give them taste of bush life, befor
morning"
Look ye'ere," growled the rufian, we
roast Halleluiah first Well see ifthe oil
prayer patterer has nothing else to do br
help to run US down. Give him taste
fire before the devil gets him."
l had DO fever, no lassitude, row; tt
prlstraton of the last few weeks left as
magic aud in its stead felt a fierce d.
lightful energy tingling along every nerv
Down close amongst the dry tindering graz
away with suppressed breath, and q Wi