The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-05-06

the mulllerers had turned i'm for th
night, we should rush into their ter
and secure them.
This was a very feasible plot, and
heartily entered into it, SO 4 minutel
described the position Of my tent, an
I to make it more easily discoverabl,
I promised that bright red pocket
I handkerchief should be hanging O
some conspicuous part of it, as thoug
: to dry, and having made all these al
I rangements, took my leave.
We'll, 1 got hack to my abode aiIou
one o'clock in the afternoon, and afte
: hasty meal, not wishing to lose
whole day, / went to my claim, an
set to for a three hours dig. Strang
to say, l had not been at work fiv
minutes when came across prett
little nugget, of about the size of wal
nut, and a few minutes later picke
out another as large as crab-apple
l was about to pocket the latter, wheI
l looked up and saw ono of the asSas
sins looking down on me.
Lucky find, mate :" said he, witt
broad grin, that i'll my prejudice.
mind seemed to say, AYE, but it vii
be mine before long"
i " Pretty WE'LL" replied, brusqueIy
and he walked away.
L found no more nuggets OH that Oc
casion; and at O'Clock i knocked of
and made my way To my tent, where
after a good wash, pulled an old gin
case outside, sat down OH it, lighted my
pipe, and cody awaited the arrival .
my visitors.
L had not 10 wait long. presently
observed two strongly framed mel
strolling leisurely in my direction, a.
though merely sauntering at random
through the diggings. As they came
opposite TO me, one of them started
and addressing me, exclaimed Hello
Ted how long have you been at Ophir.
and where did you hail from last @' and
stepping up Inc grasped me warmly by
the hand.
Seeing what was expected of me,
heartily returned the pressure, saying
in loud tone, "Why, about three
weeks. But when did you leave sgd.
ney: Come in man, and bring yOuI
friend with you. Old friends like you
and me should liquor up before gues-
tiOns are asked and answered." and i'll
I
One of the two men that We wanted
to catch was an eye and car witness OF
all this scene, but ii was so naturally
enacted that no suspicious that my two
| acquaintance We're detectives could
have entered his head.
L found that each of my visitors was
armed with revolver and pair of
handouts. They were both strong,
powerful men, and more than match
for the Others in every way. The plan,
however, to make all things certain,
and to prevent any unnecessary spill
ing of blood, was to wait until the ruff
fans were in their beds, and asleep,
when we were to steal in, and handcuff
them before they could wake up.
We had TO wait many weary hours
for this time to arrive, but at last the
snoring commenced in earnest, and this
was our signal. Handouts in hand,
the detectives crept into the adjoining
tent. 1 followed them with my revOl-
Yer leveled, in case that one or both the
rascals should wake up and be too
quick for them. They did not wake
up, and the irons were clasped around
and locked Oh their wrists without their
even twinklIng an eyclid.
But now they were roughly awaken
ed, and the senior officer said: "TOm
Jackson and Bill Watson, arrest you
for willful murder. You must both of
you getup and come along with US. 1
am Detective Sinclair, of the New
South Wales police.
/ never saw two men SO struck with
CONSERVATION ahd surprise as were
those two wortllics. At last, one of
them grasped out, Murder! Willful
murder! Detective Sinclair why, you
must all be mad"
1.-The evidence of their crime are in
this tent, remember" said to Sinclair,
nudgiDg him with my elbow. "Lct
us search for the limbs of their last
slaughtered victim"
The hint was promptly acted upon.
We seized spades and picks, and in ten
minutes every inch OF the ground COY
cred by the tent was turned over to Il
yard in depth.
No old mans legs were found; but
We were not to le daunted, and pro-
cec1ed TO ransack the tent all over, still
without any old mans legs turning up,
though we spied two fine hind legs Of a
Kangaroo hanging up in an obsure cor
ner.
We'll, are you satisfie,l"n asked
one of the prisoners. Are you coll-
WINGED that you are Oh some wild goose
chase" II so, take these cursed irons
off and be going"
No, We are not 80 convinced an.
swered Sinclair, with some asperity.
"ThiS worthy gentleman pointing
10 me, "hcard you confess last night
TO having murdered no less than eight
old men, and such crimes will have to
be accounted for. He heard you con-
fcss too, 10 having hid the legs of your
last victim i'm this tent; but doubtless
you have this day removed them to
some more secure hiding place"
g He told that, did he? tho young
donkey" screamed one of the accused,
with "A hyena-like laugh. "And 50 We
have, too-Old men kangarOos-;lnd
there are the legs we spoke of hanging
up in that corner ready for tO-mOrrOw's
pie. All. ma ha. he has brought you
on FOOLS errand, sure enough" and
the roars of laughter the two men in
dulged in fairly shook the tent.
Both detectives looked fearfully an
noyed, and yet they could not help
Without "a word to me they
took the handouts OIL the men and re-
turned them to their pockets. Then
said: "What will you take to
keep this matter Il secret. You see,
through this unfortunate new chum's
blundcr, we shall get laughed of the
diggings, unless you choose to be mer-
ciful. I'll give you IS note out of my
own pocket if you will keep, this un-
affair dark
will supplement- Sinclair's offer
with the largest of the nuggets dug
up to-day / said, feeling that ii being
laughed at was the general dread, |
stood i'm the worst position of the trio.
"Hang your bribes :" was the retort.
b" would not give up the chance of
SO glorious q yarn for ten
times the value of what you offer.
However, | will tell it as leniently as
possible. And rs for this new chum,"
turning to nc, "when | first came to
the colony, and my mate here were
both Of us green enough to have made
just Us stupid a blunder: 50 L can't
blame him. Come, let us sit down and
have "A drink all round of real old Ja-
maica rum, of which we have an un-
preached ktsy in stock"
The invitation was readily accepted,
klnd we kept il up until day-brcak with
S0pg, songs and tOastS. .,
u endcd the tragedy Of "killiiS y!
IA man, which l now learnt wi'+
namc universally bestowed on Il large
male Kangaroo. These animals, when'
attacked, are very ferocious, and if they