The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-02

course. in the gear of thorough Bush
man, and they might spare him on the old
Scotch principle, "lIaWks pyic not DOT
hawks cen" Besides, he might conceal
his tcn-pound note, and it would not break
his heart 10 lose his half-sovcrcign and
hall.crown. On the whole, then, he saw
nothing for it but to resume his journey.
He chose his short sock aS the best place
for tho banknote, and thrust the note into
it without folding it up.
Forth he went, and rode rapidly on for
abou. an hour without seeing the rangers ;
however, he distinctly saw tie fresh tracks
Of 3oT horses in advance. Al an abrupt
turn in the road, he was covered by three
reviewers, and addressed by three voices
DiSmount,"
No help for it. He got oil his horse and
took survey Of the "glorious three"
One was very good-natured-looking fell
low the other seemed rather backward !;
the third was an uumiStakabic rulIian.
"Whcrc have you been! You're adig-
ger"
"I'm just coming from the Wanoorah
Diggins."
These gold-felds were noted for their
poverty.
" How much money have you got ,"
Gone hall-soyercign and one half
crown"
" Is that all ?"
"Thut's ALL"
1t was the good-naturcd man who spoke
in this dialogue.
a think, jim, we may let him off. The
poor devil must he hard up, coming from
those wrrtchcd diggiug>."
owen have something to say 10 him
first" replied Number Three, whose ac-
cent was Irish and this gave Ny Chain
man some hope.
"Wci. at all events, he must have a
glass of grug." Ny Chairman accordingly
dranl, bumper that took his breath away.
"Walk before me into the bush," then
said Number Three.
"Not a bit Of it, jim; let the poor devil
60. Why, he'Sa countryman OF your own.
What do you say, Jack?'
"Nvvcr mind what Jack says" replied
Number Three. Don't make an ass OF
Yourself, Dick I'll have my way in this p
He motioncd to My Chairman 10 90 Oh
and on he went until they reached belt
OF scrub.
"ualt. Now listen to me. It's my
opinion that you are Schcmcr. ii ind
one shilling on You more than you have
acknowledged to" 0Ie swore terrific
oath) am blow your brains out on the
spot. Strip
NY Chairman owned to me that for n
moment he felt a mortal terror, but he
shook it of and proceeded to undress.
"Takc off your jumper tirSt-not your
boots. Now your flannel shirt. Throw
them over to me-"
He examined them thoroughly.
"Take off your boots. Throw them here.
Now your trousers"
lie found in the pockets the two coins.
And Ny Chairman hoped that the search
vas over. Not yet.
"Takc oil your socks "
To hesitate was instant death. The
ruiiian shook both the socks. Let the
reader fancy the beating of My Chainman's
heart, meanwhile, As he had thrust the
note into the sock without folding 1t up,
and as the robbcr had caught the note
with the thick sock between his niger ana
thumb, it was thus prevented from drop
ping out. To such small things man may
owe dear life itself.
/" Now he OIL"
what! :" said Ny Chairman. Would
wa send man away stark naked, ana III
this weather, too I"
"You ought to be thankful for your
life"
Just then up came Dick.
"Uayen't you searched him yet? What
the devils tie use OF kcceping him in the
cold p
"You mind your own business, Dick"
"Jim," reported Dick, "you know can
stand good deal; but you're not the man
TO hide IL quarrel with me when I'm reused.
won't allow you to do as you did last time.
Give this man his boots and trousers keep
his Jumper, if you want it,
Thus they split the difference, and Ny
Chairman was left on a buSh-road without
a horse, and only hai-clad. He had his
ten-pound note, however.
After walking briskly for about twelve
miles, he came 10 sly grcg-shop, where
he found two men converSng; one, evil
IDENTIFY, the host the other (he knew as
well as if it had been revealed to him), was
the fourth Bushranger.
In the endless wilds of Australia, there
is not a Bushman whose life does not often
depend on "trackipg;" and so wonderful
do Bushmen become in this respect, that
they can tell the date of every mark upon
the ground. | have heard them debate as
to whether blacks track was an hour
old, or two hours. Now, Ny Chairman
had seen the tracks OF four horses in com
pany, and he had carefully tracked the
fourth up to this "humpy," close TO which
it was standing quietly tied by the bride.
"If don't ride that horse away from
this, to-day" said Ny Chairman to him.
self, "may never have the blessing Of
ST. Patrick
The host was a little man; the Bush
ranger was a tall and Muscular villain,
with long black hair falling down his
shoulders-a bad sign, as it showed lie had
been long "out."
They had been talking on subject that
had excited the Bushranger, and that sub
iect, as far as NV Chairman could gather
from the muttered words lie overheard a,
his entrance, was that the police were on
their way up, and not very far off.
My Chairman gave the masonic sign
! it was answered by the host.