Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-01-02

ward to take up one of the glasses, but
Casey, with an awkward apology about
helping the gent first, handed the robber
that very glass, gave another to my
Chinaman and drank off the third him
self.
MY Chinaman understood all this. and
hoped that the supplying potion would
soon take effect. But no. Tht rufian's
constitution was as sound as the found
alton Of ST. Paul's, and the draught only
increased his sharpness and penetration.
.Do you think don't see through
you?" sald he,with diabOlical glance at
Casey. "I'm not so sure of yoU;" (lhis
was to my Chinaman;) "if I was, know
what should do,'
What have / done, sir?" said Casey.
"What have you done, you villain!
Everything. I'll have your life!"
Now, although my Chinaman did not
think that the rufian meant the threat
literally, yet be made his little prepara-
lions. The fellow was armed TO the teeth.
He had two revolvers in his belt, and a
double barrelled gun stood close 10 him.
A large sheath. knife hung on bis hip.
Every second increased the rufian's fury.
His curses and threats were appalling.
Casey, the other side of the fire, sat the
picture of dismay.
"WhY don't you answer mel" the rob-
Der at last shouted
Because" gasped Casey, Il have
nothing TO say"
"Nolhing TO say2" roared the bnshran-
ger. Take thaln'
He drew a revolver, half rose from his
seat, and with wonderful quickness, lev
elled the weapon at Casey. But my
Chinaman was quicker than he. He had
quietly picked up an American toma-
hawk which lay on a block beside INN,
and, Just as the bushranger had given the
half turn to fire, down came the toma-
hawk on the back of the neck. The pis-'
tol exploded at the same moment. The
wretched man gave hardly culver. He
was dead in second. The two survivors
looked into each others faces.
"Of course he was a bushranger?"
inquired Casey, after long pause,
''Of course he was" said my China
man, and he then told the whole story.
"But even if be were not, did It in self
defence, for he would have shot me the
next minute"
"You saved my life, however," said
Casey, "and that is everything to the
purpose"
II thought at first, said my Chinaman,
'that you were in league with the rob.
bers."
"Probably l might have been forced to
be so in time, " was the reply! "but have
not been here lcng, and, rely upon it, /
shan. be here long"
"What is best TO be done?" said my
Chinaman. Shall l ride on and meet
the police, if they are on the way?"
"For the Lords sake, dOn'G" exclaim-
ed the other.
"His mates are sure to be here in no
time, and they'll torture me if they find
this out"
"Get up behind me. and we'll both
ride off," said my Chinaman.
"Then 1 leave everything belonging
to me to be plundered."
"Well, then, man. what Is ityou want?
What's your advice?"
"Let US throw the body down that
rock into the scrub there, and then clean
up. You ride off. Ill pretend that, their
mate was after you. If you do meet the
police, don't say word about il.
"But the horse and sadd die may be
stolen property?"
"You must chance that. I;'s the only
plan"
My Chinaman adopted the only plan,
rode down TO Sydney, and sold his horse.
But now, sir" said be. "comes the
strangest part of the story, and, if l didn't
feel sure that you would believe me,
would never tell it. Years passed, and
happened to be travelling through a
town where the assizes were going on
heard that a great murderer was TO be
tried, so | went to hear the trial. As
live and must die, one of the officials of
that court, and not the lowest either, was
Jim, the bushranger who stripped mel"
"Of course you communicated your dis
covery to the police?"
My Chinaman gave dry cough, and,
[ rather think, got red in the face.
81 never much cottoned to the police,
sir, at any time-least of all then. Not
so much for my own sake as for others"
II see, see, +" said l; "But / hope that
was the Ouly human blood you ever
shed?"
The only drop" said my Chinaman,
in some confusion.