Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-11-10

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weeks, at the end of that time he was as
eonvalescept as convicts are allowed to be-
come before being sent to work and to work
he was accordingly ordered for the following
morning. In few minutes after this pleas
ing intelli gence was communicated to him
he walked into the closet, and the next lid
ings heard of him was that he was bush
ranger in the Bathurst Mountains. He ef.
fected his escape, as some enterprising gen
tleman in San Francisco contemplates achiev-
ing fortunes, by exploring the sewers of the
city
Having achieved his liberty in this ro-
mantle fashion, his first exploit upon gain
ing open air in the dusk of evening was to
go into house on Brickfeld Hill, take 8
gun from the mantelpiece and flask of pow
der from shelf, and when, with this scanty
equipment, he was proceeding on his way,
the mistress of the house, who happened
to be the only inmate at the time, freely fur
nished him, in addition, supper and suit
OF her husband 5 clothes.
The die is cast, he soliloquized as he
proceeded on his way. Life is lottery,
and | have made a draw. There is nothing
for it now but courage and resolution I'd
sooner be hanged thousand times over
than live lie Of such horrible torture
Halt your money or your life, " he roared
as horseman came galioping towards hin.
What so near the town." was the ex-
clamation of the astonished equestrian. L
am sid-de-camp 10 his excellency."
''Dismount, sir, on the instant, or you re
dead man -
He di.mounted
''Put down on the road your purse watch,
and such valuables as you We got, ordered
the brigand, leveling his gun at the officer S
head, ''and turn your back and walk off
You shall be unharmed."
The gentleman obeyed, the brigand mount
ed and galloped away. The former natural
ly very much crest-fallen, walked to his
quarters, reported the casualty" adding
that be had been set upon by six armed
bushrange-s and had escaped death by a spe-
cial interpositlon Of providence. In eorrob-
oration of which narrow escape he showed
several bullet holes in his gold laced frock
coat, which said bullet holes had been in
ficted on the unoffending frockcoat by his
own pocket pistols after Donahue had gal
loped away on his horse.
Before ten clock that night both man
and horse were beyond the Ncpcan river in
the Blue Mountains, forty miles from the
city of Sydney. DismouDtiug, he patted
the arched neck Of the proud and painting
.teed, aud said: You've done bravely
And now | must introduce myself as Bold
Dick Donahue, and you will christen De-
liverer
He rose with the sun the next morning,
visited Deliserer, and groomed him with a
handful OF long grass. He heard noise
that sounded like musket shot. He lis
tened again. 1t was the crack of bullock
whip. In an instant he was by the roadside
in command of the position. He heard the
bullock teams and their drivers coming to-
wards him.
Haiti he cried, pointing his gun at the
foremost.
Dick Douahue!' = exclaimed that worthy
in jubilant voice.
who are you? What have you got Z
Who is your master?
'Smith-hurgry Smith of Mudgee-is
my MASTER said the driver.
Where is your master'" demanded Dick.
''Ou the road behind US, coming from
Sydney.
By this time the rest of the teamsters
had come up, and one and all urged the bri-
gand to rob their masters drays and take
themselves as companions.
''As to taking you for companions, | shall
think about that part of the business.
Meantime, unload the drays and take the
goods into the bushes.
Having showed them his hiding place
and ordered them 10 mount guard over the
booty, he started off to meet Smith He
hadn't proceeded far before he encountered
that gentleman and another squatter riding
in company. He ordered them to stand
and deliver" they obeyed at his command,
he DOunO tGSlr OanUss anu IlsfCleQ them
to his place of rendezvous.
There gentlemen, he said, these drays
are emptied by my orders. I do not rob for
riches, but to teach those who have them
how TO use them properly. Might is right
all over the country, aud as long as | am
king of the highway | shall insist upon jus
tice being done 10 my fellow convicts For
you, Mr.. Smith, shall infict no corpora
punishment on you this time, but if | ever
hear that you fog your hands. or don't give
them sufficient food, shall visit you, and
fog you with your own can-o nine tails.
Having made this interesting announce
ment, and tied the two settlers TO the drays,
he went to his hiding place, where he found
the goods safely deposited, but one-half the
sentinels quite drunk. These he rebuked,
taunting them with their ambition TO be-
come bushranger while lacking the para
mount qualification of vigilance, that a
drunken man was good for nothing, far less
the hazardous work of bushranging.
go to your drays, he said, you shall
be no companions ofmine; you would soon
bring us all to the gallows. For you" he
~ h.