Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-08-11
Red Jim.
AN AUSTRALIAN STORY,

in the end Of February, 1865: that is /
say, the bush grass lay long and dea
; amid moveless trees, or upon level tire,
some plains the heated air quivere
against the low horizon, and dance
above the withered verdure like the sur
roundings of a furnace. There had beel
a long season of drought. Nothing bu
dry water-beds, distressed hocks, an,
wandering cattle, were to be seen any
where sometimes the black heavy mas
ses of smoke would roll along the distan
sky, and cloud the glaring sun to crimson
Sometimes in the close night flush, fa
and faint, told that the conhagration
which had not yet reached US were sweep
ing many an acre OF brush or pasture
land. That was a summer | shall never
forget Day after day the same brigh
dazzling sky, the scorched hills anC
plains, the weary irritating sense of pros
tration. / watched the poor half. mad
dened sheep, weeks upon weeks, with g
painful sense of duty which is present tc
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. Listlessly they coiled in the
shade and isllessly | watched them, un>
til / began to experience a 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
still hot atmosphere kept up the fever
that was coming upon me, and my slum-
ber was ever broken. | used to envy
the old station horse they had left for my
use, when l heard him nibblihg among
the grass in the darkness OF the night,
and snorting satisfaction that the sun had
passed the hazy hills. After a time !
began to loath the weary walk home,
and, taking with me an extra supply of
tea and damper, made practice of camp
| ing where the sheep camped visiting
my hut only as the vagaries of the flock
led me to its vicinity; then | replenish-
ed my stock and left with the sheep again.
| am sure bad fever, and would soon
have become delirious, for had nothing
to relieve the frightful monotony, always
the same brazen sky, the dead sweltering
heat, the motionless forest, the strange
murmurings of the wilderness, like the
faint whisperings of sea-shell.
One night was lying tossing about in
the long grass Of box>swamp, not a mile
from my hut. l chose the place because
the ground was cooler than on the un-
sheltered 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 surg
ed up dimly and tenderly. How longed
for the bleak sky, the cold bracing wind,
and the sleety rain of home How |
longed for the pattering fall of rain on the
windows, and the winter comfort of the
bright heartbstone. Somehow h
loneings wove in with my thoughts, and
in partial dream l heard winter songs
again, and loud words, and laughter.
l awoke with a sudden start to see,
not twenty yards from me, three men
hobbling their horses, and speaking to
each other about some bush fire. could
hardly persuade myself that l was not
still dreaming.
One of the men 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 COL
umn of fame started up suddenly and
displayed face that caused me to shrink
back again, with a muttered thanksgiv-
ing that was not discovered. 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
shepherds hut on the surrounding sta
tions. There was no mistaking him.
The bulldog forehead, the heavy jaw,
and the thick neck, were features that in
themselves would have sufficiently point
ed out the identity of this escaped con-
vict. Recalling the man now, as l saw
him then, l think never behed so per-
feet an impersonation of bad criminal.
1t was well known that Red Jim had
escaped from penal servitude, accompani-
ed by three others, but had arrived in
this colony alone. 1t was equally we'll
known that he could only have survived !
the incredible journey by cannibalism.-
Red Jim, had ruthlessly murdered one
or two settlers against whom be enter.
tanned a grudge, and every effort was
being at that time made to capture him.
There was nothing remarkable in the
faces of his companions. They simply
showed by word and feature all the ev-
licences of ruffianism usual 10 men of
their class. 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 press
ID through my mind in much less time
han il takes TO write them. was speedily
recalled from speculation by hearing the
word "Hallelujah" used. Hallelujah was
he sobriquet given to my master be-
,ause Of bis strictly adherirg to the habit
'f reading prayers in the family, morn
ng and evening. Mr.. Christmas was
lind, benevolent man, respected by ever
hand" on the station and by none
more than myself. He had been very
onsiderate to me in late illness, and
ften sought by many subsequent atten-
ions TO cheer the loneliness of my ems ,
'loyment One Of Red Jim's compau- /