The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-03-06

me !" | began descending my rope.
A shrek Of pain, and hOarse curse,
from above, told me that | had no
thrown away my powder. | congratu
lated myself on an escape; when turn
ing to look below, / saw the red. fiery
eyes of an immense dog glaring at me
his deep muZZle, broad chest, and gray
ish white coat of why hair, showed hin
to be bloodhound; and with thrill o.
horror, ! saw that must drop right al
his feet.
] leveled my pistol at him, and tried
to steady myself ON the rope to take aim
My first shot missed him, the second
gave him only a slight wound that rem
dered him far more dangerous, when
felt the rope give way; it had been cut
above, and fell some five or six feet
almost into his very Jaws.
beheld the fierce brute about tC
spring on me; at the same moment. a
gathering vOlley rang out from above
and heard half dozen bullets hiss by
my head, and bury themselves with d
dull thud in the earth. Though little
intended for the purpose, that volley
saved my life; every ball missed me
but one passed through the head Of the
bloodhound, who was now lying dead
across my body. 1t was a providential
escape; but | was rot Yet out Of the
wood, and there was no time to lose
could hear the muttered curses o dis
appointment and the ramming of new
charges home, Is those above saw me
move. Throwing off the dead brute,
whose weight nearly stified me, / fired
the last barrel at the window, and with
satisfaction saw the big shepherd clap
his hand to his face, which, in an ms
tant, became covered with blood then,
springing to my feet, ran for my life,
knew not whittier.
Immediately however, / was checked
by high fence. At any other time
should have found this an obstacle diff
cult to surmount; but now a love of life
gave me strength and expertness; even
my sore leg was unfelt; and in mo-
ment l was at the summit The sharp
crack of rifle rang outOn the still night
air; | saw my wide-awake fly from my
head, and felt scrape like that of y
blunt razor across my scalp, but | did
not stay to ponder on that Springing
down on the off side, | again took to my
heels, loading my revolver a / went,
and ramming a bullet home in each bar
rel
In about five minutes time | stopped
to regain my breath, and from behind a
gum-tree looked at the Log house.
1t lay little more than a quarter Of
mile distant, clearly visible in the bright
light of the moon, which now shown
down from an unclOuded heaven. The
night was so still that even the spring
of the grasshopper could be heard, and /
listened with breathless anxiety for the
sound Of the pursuit.
Presently, the deep, fierce bay OF dogs
smote upon my ear, mingled with shout
ngs ana laughter. saw three figures
and two powerful hounds emerge from
the shadow Of the fence. They were
urging the dogs on the trail.
| again commence my flight. | had
not, however, run many yards, when |
caught my foot in ii hole and was
broughtto with a sprained ankle.
| ground my teeth in despair. !
glanced around the dogs We're only u
hundred yards in my rear, running
neck and neck, their great tongues lol-
ling out Of their mouths, thus display
ing their formidable fangs, their eyes
flashing fire, too eager for my blood
even 10 give tongue.
looked wistfully around. 4 ray OF
Dtlt hsl lltA upon III TtAA Il y sttt
from me stood gum-tree more bushy
and thick with foliage than its neigh
5ors.
With great difficulty clambered upits
trunk, got amongst its densest brRnchte
and with nay two revolvers before me,
To sell my life as dearly a. pos
,ible
| knew they must come within my
range to see me; they could not use their
rifles now, save at hap-hazard while
rom the dogs | was quite safe. Those
)rutes were bowling with baffied rage
1t the foot of the tree
| did not notice them; my powder was
Tor their masters.
Presently they drew near; not advanc-
ng boldly. for they knew I was armed,
1ut lodging from tree to tree. | recog-
lized the shepherd with his head tied
up in a blood-stained bandage; the bush
anger NOW attired in male apparel,
md one of the sons. The other / sup
eOsed | had shot-which was, i'm fact,
he case.
At last the villains opened fire, but
hanks to the shelteTing foliage of my
rec. the balls flew by me harmlessly.
-eturned the compliment whenever "A
read showed itself from behind trunk,
)ut for some time with equal i'll sue
-ess.
At length a bullet from the bushrang-
r passed through nay leg, and half mad
With rage and pain, | resolved to repay
he shot with interest. had not to wait
ong for chance; he incautiously eX-
,osed his side whilst relOading, and /
marked him with his own revolver, and
lred | saw him clap his left hand to
lis side, and blood spout ont from be-
ween his fingers. He then quilted his
rec, and fcarlessly walked up to the
cry trunk of the one in which | was
His eyes met mine; | fired
wo shots at him, aud missed; the next
Instant his barrel covered me.
"Hang you ~ he muttered; "that shot
# yours has won you thousand pounds.
am Dick the Devil but you shan't
i've to touch the money"
His finger was on the trigger; but ere
lie could pull it, his brain reeled, deaths |
Iand was upon him, and he fell at my
eet a corpse.
The same moment Il rattling volley |
choed around me. | saw the shepherd |
nd his son running for their lives, pur-
ued by two of the Melbourne mounted |
olice.
The fellows were captured, tried, con-
emned, and hanged. | pOcketed the |
thousand pounds, less some couple of |
hundred with which | rewarded my |
rave preservers. This ended my first |
overture with the bushrangers of Vic
oria.