East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-02-21
SAVED by Y.pocroR.p0
AN AUSTRALIAN AbyEsruuRr.

occurred at place not two hundred
miles from the township of Horshani,
Victoria, Australia. Where the exact
locality is, i have no intention OF. di-
vulging; but if any Of my readers are
acquainted with the part Of the world
| refer to-, they, will remember that
there exists one or two large streams
within tho wide radius have named.
Beside one of these rivers there was
standing, about twenty years ago,
hut which was known at the Home
stead as the Deep Water Station; and
it was here that my lot placed me as
hutkeeper. / Ilivod at the Deep Water
Station for two years. ts'T '.trss .,ti.r
! L purpose a. -l4a~ 4he-- NOS &C ap
concerned in the tragedy | am going
to relate. One Of the actors is still
living, and at this present Christmas
is occupying prominent position
among the colonists Of Victoria. Ny
reasons for concealing locality and
names will be obvious as my tale pro-
ceeds.
If readers of the following story
wish to know who l am, Twill crafty
their curiosity so far as to state that /
was born in the North of Eugland.--
Ny father was retired tradesman.-
He gave me fair education, but
never fulfilled the expectations formed
of me. This night, while l write, l
can show nothing to prove that l ever
succeeded in the world / am poor
clerk, struggling for bare existence,
and sometimes struggling with a wild,
strong impulse to wander. and work
through the country, as often did
before, near the scenes of my former
experience. i like the red sunset and
the wide plains as much as ever; | like
the glow of the sunlight among the
gnarled queer trees; like the ripping |
rays on the water-the waving shad-
owy grass of the silent hills--the brigh. |
still moon-the wilderness, away from
towns; / like Australian life, but not
among the dusty streets, or near to
white sweltering roads, For twelve
years i followed these impulses faith
fully, and enjoyed my bush-life with.
little profit, it is true, but with much
of pleasure. All that have TO shows
for all my hardships, is long ugly
scar across my breast, and l am going
to tell you how / got it.
/ remember / was sitting at the hut
(the Deep Water HUT Que summer
afternoon, looking for the coming of
"Long Mat" The sun was passing
away blood-red behind range of dim
blue hills; long shadows were fast
spreading; the deep water-hole had
lost the light, the hills behind the
river were just tipped with crimson
glorv. and stars seemed dropping like
silver specs on the puiing sky. Long
usual
The darkness had not quite fallen
before / recognized the bleating of the
flock in the distance, and soon after
wards the white Aeeces of the sheep
slowly appeared from out the sombre
shadows of the trees. L had Just
walked inside the-hnt to prepare sup
per, when the quick untitled fall of a
| horses feet became audible. l knew
the canter well, and came to the door
to wait the arrival of Mr.. S., the
owner of the station. He galloped up
to the hut with q cheerful Good even
ing, Bill" and, as usual, came inside
to ask me if l wanted anything, aud
to light his pipe.
/ can't stay long this time, Bill"
he said pleasantly, but with little anx-
iety; "the black fellows are about
again. hope your gun is in order.
Do you want any powder or lead Z"
I ave nave quite enough" j replied,
''for both Mat and myself; but there's
no bullets; I'll run them tomorrow.
Mats rather late this evening; but
! the fock's not far off; they'll be home
in a quarter Of an hour; saw them
past the belt just before you came" F"
At this instant the shadow of man
darkened the door, and Mat entered.
"Good evening" he said quietly, to
Mr.. S--and myself. The sleeps
feedin' home all right, sirS but there's
a few missin. One of my marked
ewes is gone, and 1 can't see two of
the crawlers."
"You'll pick them up tomorrow,
Mat" replied the strong pleasant voice
of the squatter. "Bill says you've
enough powder and lead. The blacks
are about, do you know that2"
Without waiting for an answer, Mr..
S. proceeded to undo his horse,
and was about to mount when Mat
(who was American) said: q guess
you had better stop tonight, sir"
Why?"
"Iniuns is close up. One Of the
sheep / spoke of was speared." !"
al heard there were black fellows
about" said Mr.. S., delaying TO
mount; "but the ride is safe enough;
I've got my rifle with me-"
They're too close" responded the
shepherd, after filling pannikin of
tea, and, contrary to his custom, stand
ing his gun against the table.
He looked at him inquiringly. He
kept his eyes wandering over and
around the flocks while he explained:
Wall, you see, sir, after seein' the
spear-wound on the crawler, L looked
about me purity sharp, but couldn't see
nothin' till i was leavin' the belt there,
when / sighted one of the varrnint
wrigglin' through the grass like a
snake. 1 was goin' to give him pill,
but / saw another wriggle in his wake,
and then another; and" continued
the narrator, with something like a
glow of pleased anticipation, they
amt far off now, / reckon"
He had scarcely uttered the words
when he lifted both hands and struck
Mr.. s. full on the chest with
enough force to drive him to the ex-
treme end Of the hut. At the same
instant spear whizzled through the
oman doorwav. and ouiverpd in thf