Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-17

N ed, the shepherd. have come to tel
you-"
Better have some supper first Ned
You've had hard ride see. Are the sheeE
all right ?"
There is no time for supper Red
jim
hurriedly told him all knew. He heard
me to the end without once interrupting,
and then said quickly, Come in There is
indeed no time to lose"
stepped after him across the pleasant
room, where there were seated two ladies
reading.
Ladies'" said Mr. Christmas, as grace
fully as though l held the position Of a
gentleman rather than that Of a servant,
81 this is Ned Graham, the SHEPPARD, to
whom you remember sending medicine and
comfort during his illness" The ladies
bowed pleasantly as Mr. Christmas contin-
ucd, 3" he has now come to return your
kindness with interest"
| They looked at me with some surprise
principally, | think, because of the emphat-
ic, distinct way in which the last few words
were spoken. After a pause, the master
said, Amelia, Emily, | wish to speak to
| You both for moment"
They all three left the room, while |, GU
rious in such matters, looked at the open
books that were lying on the table. One
was Ivanhoe q second some French work
and that opposite the old gentleman's chair
large family bible.
In few minutes | heard Mr. Christmas s
step as he returned with two double bar
relied guns. There was rigid expression
on his face, very different to what | had
ever seen there before not the slightest ev-
idence of faltering or fear
Are you COOL and a good shot p were
the first words he uttered.
am, sir" | replied, confidently. "Are
| the guns loaded and the ladies safe 2"
Take glass of brandy and | will tell
| you"
| He signed to a sideboard, where de
canter stood | was about to follow his
suggestion, when he said, Stay Don't
pass between the light and the window
Go round the table. Everything must
wear the appearance Of peace. We can
not tell where they are now, and it would
not do to arouse their suspicious"
| In few minutes the light was eXtin-
guished, the door was bolted, and we step
ped quickly out on the little parterre in
| front
"Now," said my master, slowly, there
are only ourselves to defend my home and
my children. My servants are all absent
at bush fire that was reported this after
noon, and everything will depend upon our
coolness and determination. We cannot
do otherwise than to shoot to kill The
gang will, of course enter by the slip pam
els, for they will not run the risk of leav-
ing their horses behind. Then, as the
| faintest noise could be heard on such a
night as this, they will not hazard the pull
ing down of a fence. We will each take
up position behind the large posts. take
sure aim, and fire low. I'll fire first"
As silently as spectres, we walked across
to the paddock entrance, and stopped oppo-
site each other at the place Indicated
| With straining eyes and beating heart, |
peered into obscurity. Afar, I thought
could see faint tint on the sky, like the
reflection of the ruffian's camp fire. The
night was terribly silent and oppressive
There was nothing apparently on which to
exercise the senses but kind of overpow-
ering hush. There was a dim, hazy cur
tain across the sky, and the night was of a
| black darkness. | should have thought
oftcntimes that | was dreaming, were it
not for the patient motionless figure oppo-
site, and the faint stars. Inaction under
such circumstances is hardly to be borne,
and my thoughts often wandered from their
very intensity. | began to speculate how
long it would take a star to pass some
black ragged patch Of cloud, and then
would look before me and see it dancing
on the darkness. Then the face Of Red
Jim would grow upon me, till | saw the
| hideous features close to where | stood.
! Still, no sound broke on the dark shroud-
ing night. Sometimes | thought, with a
chilly start, that the bushrangers might
have approached the house by some other
way, but up behind Inc all was quiet
| At last there came a thin faint murmur
that barely caught the ear, and as | listen
ed to know if it were real, | caught an
other but better defined noise that over
powered the first. At last detected some
thing that might be footballs of a horse
sometimes it would die away and come
again but each time more clearly that be-
fore And yet could not feel certain that
| was not deceiving myself Eventually |
heard muffled sound, distinct and defined
enough to proclaim the approach of a horse,
or horses.
Mr. Christmas heard it also, for | dimly
saw him move
My hand felt along the cool barrels, and
toyed with the hammers and triggers anx.
iously enough, and put the gun to my
shoulder against the sky, but failed to see
the view" Just as had taken the wea
pom down again, Mr.. Christmas said, in a
clear, low whisper, Be sure you aim low
and don't be in hurry"
AS the sounds of the horses hoofs and OF
voices mingled, detected the double click
from the opposite gun. followed the ex.
ample, and, with both guns cooked, we
waited the enemy's nearest approach
Gradually, | recognized the outlines of the
men against the sky, cloudy as it was
they were approaching in single file, and
as they became blacker and better defined
| heard a stihed laugh and an OATH In a
short time they were within twenty yards
of where we stood, and they pulled up tc
consult. Although they spoke in whis
pers, | heard much that passed, for my
sense of hearing had become extremely
acute, as that of all shepherds does. Il
was impossible to distinguish by the tones
who the speakers were, but | heard one O.
them inquire
care you shure the hands amt above ?
90 Sartin-when Iearv SDun his VarI