The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-08-01

sky, cloudy As il was they we're ap.
preaching in single Gle, and as they
blaeker aud better defined, | heard a
slfed laugh and an oath. In a shot,
time they were within twenty yard.
Of here We stood, and they pulled up
10 consult Although they spoke in
whispers. | heard much that passed.
for my sense OF hearing bad become
extremely acute, as that Of all shep-
herds does. IL was impossible 10 dis
tinguish by the tones who the speak
ers were, but heard one OF them in.
quire
Are you sure the hands amt above 4
'Sartain--when Leary spun his yarn
about the fire, the cove sent EN- all
away to IT,
'Hallelujah fust. five fire the box,
it'll bring EN- back.
And no grabbing the molls, wits.
pered one OF them, authoratiyely, and
whom / fancied was Red Jim, 'till |
make the cursed old psalm.singer a
back log for the bonfire. Then well
make love if you choose
Come on said an impatient voice !;
don't hold prayer meeting over IT,
They then tied their horses to
fence that ran at right angles to the
post against which stood, and ap-
preached the entrance still in single
file. i determined TO adhere strictly
to the orders / had received, and
waited for the opposite fire. knew
that my companion would allow the
men to advance a little, so that he
might not endanger me and il was
with throbbing heart that | saw the
black form of the first bushranger
pass between us.
| heard him stumble with an oath
over a cartrut. Then a line Of flame
cut its abrupt short track on the dark
ness, and the sound had not passed to
echoes before shrill cry followed it,
as the william staggered on few pa
ces and fell, plowing up the dust
The light of the discharge had just
died out, when l heard another snap,
as sportsman shoots when firing
right and left. | knew that the mas
ter's gun was now useless.
"Come on, Nix! It's the cove him
sell. / saw him by the light Of the
shot; his stings gone now" And one
Of the men rushed to where my mas
ter stood, followed by his comrade.
| had one Of them covered, but if !
fired Il heard the noise of struggling)
| might kill my master. Thus | stood
with the gun at aim, undecided and
half mad. The voice OF the men say
ing, damn you, knife him p resolved
me, fired amongst them. | saw
some one sink down, but | could not
tell who it was, and, as he appeared
to let 90 his hold, and rush to the
horses, took second hurried aim and
fired then / bounded across the en-
trance, ust in time TO see the wound
ed wretch bending over Mr.. Christ
mas and trying to strangle him. In a
moment the gun was poised and
smashed to fragments on his skull
But we had exposed our strength, and
the remaining bushranger, who be-
lleyed that he had stabbed my com
panion, sceized one OF the guns left
standing at the fence, and fired. The
ball was unpleasantly close, and had
scarce time to know that | was unin-
jurt d, when Red Jim himself was up
on me with the weapon elubed. |
made a rapid spring at him before the
blow could fall, and grappled with
him. We rolled on the ground to-
gether. With all the force Of my
strength ! resisted his efforts to grasp
me by The throat, but at last his hide
Gus face sunk close TO mine, and his
teeth met beneath my chin. ! exper-
enced suffocating gddy feeling, and
then | heard hurried voices and run
ning feet just as felt my grip relax
But the frightiul grip re-
laxed too, and Red Jim rose TO his
feet and jumped on my chest with all
his force.
When / came to consciousness, |
found myself in the cheerful parlor,
and the ladies' hands were tenderly
washing away The traces of the fight.
Mr.. Christmas had tainted from loss
of blood, but was not dangerously
wounded.
Red Jim escaped, but his two COM
panions, neither of whom were killed
were given into the safe keeping Of
The authorities, and afterwards hang
ed. Three years after the atfray Mr..
Christmas made me his overseer, and
finally his manager. A long time has
passed since then, but yet closer
rehuionshpaexists between US. am
writing the tale Of my early expert
ences al The same table whereupon
saw The Bible on that memorable
night. There is a lady who sits OPP
posite 10 me. She was the reader Of
Ivanhoe, tile daughter Of Mr.. Christi
mas, and she is my ~ife.
A ne,r accednte nf Mr Iincnln is