Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-02-03
An Australian 4 Rush Story.

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An Australian Bush Story.
Soon after my arrival IN Austnlia, /
obtained, through the influence Of some
friends in Melbourne, a berth IN the
mounted police. The service there differs
very much from what il is in other
countries, nearly all the members OF the
corps being well-educated gentlemen,
many the Younger scions OF noble houses,
who like the adventurous life they lead
was stationed up country near Ballanlt
and the chief duty upon which that
branch of the force WAS engaged was
. protecting the squatiers from the depre-
dations of buShangers. A rough and
often hloOd-thirsty lot these fellows are.
The leader OF one of the most powerful
I gangs was named Morgan. wild and
Y desperate fellow. whose very name was
terror 10 peAceable settlers One
Spring-Spnug there, by the way, il
about October-we received information
at headquarters that the mail had been
"stuck up" between Ayona and Mount
Alexander. and that many squatters'
shanties had been despOiled by large
B body of bushrangers and from the de-
+ scription given Of the leader. little doubt
F remained but that the gang was comprised
Of Morgan and his satellites. Our chief
( detailed eight Of us 10 scnur the country,
and il possible bring the marauders 10
justice and as large reward IVES offered
for MOrgan-dead or aliye-we set out
full OF zest for the chase The Inspector
heading our party was Harry Butler. the
second son Of an English Baronet,
frank, genial, opcn-hearted fellow, brave
as hon. Ii WAS Sunday evening when
We arrived at a little store kept rs Il sort
of halfway house. for journeying dig
gers. and there we concluded 20 stop for
the night We picketel our horses in
kraal outside. made n hearty supper.
rolled ourselves up in our opossum rugs.
and. wearied by our long ride, sank
quietly TO sleep. In the middle Of the
night / was aroused by little aborgine,
who had crawled in on his stomach and
attracted my attention by gently squeez-
ing nv nose. "Lags here e. he whis-
pered softly, as raised my head in
a~tonishment listened attcntively for
a moment, and then heard horse whiuny
outside. and shortly afterwards tramp
A444a "a AARArt% AANAAAAE bhtA aA4tA bhtAs
soon gained Buffers side, awoke him
and put my finger on his lip as a caution
TO him to be silent The gang are
outside. and are probably stealing our
horses" ] said in a hushed voice He
sprang to his feet and commenced softly
arousing our comrades, " Look to your
pistols, boys, and come out the front
way Half Of us go TO the right, half TO
the left, meet in the rear, and guess we
win capture the scoundrels, " he ordered.
speaking rapidly. but in 4 low tone.
Our party separated as instructed, fol- I
lowing Butler round TO the right, our
short carbines cooked, and the reyolvers
in our belts ready for immediate use
As we turned the last gable of the build
ing we came suddenly upon large body
OF men, many OF whom were mounted.
while the rest were busily occupied
untethering our horses. Stand. in the
Queens name, or we fire !" shouted
Butler, leaping boldly 20 the 'front.', and
bringing the muzzle Of his piece to bear
upon n swarthy, rough-headed man, who
was evidently the leader. Scarcely were
the words uttered when flash came
from another direction, and Butler fell
dead ut my feet with ball through has
brain.
Quick men The Gufiies are down on
us, yelled voice in savage fury. and
heavy volley followed his words. A
bullet pierced my shoulder and fell. but
wlile on the ground drew my revolver
and fired at the leader His horse
swerved inst nj that moment, and received
fba, hu III n1 oN lsp 49,
rage, the man strove 10 free himself from
his fallen steed, and / became aware OF
sharp conflict being maintained by my
comrades and the band Of desperadoes,
but / twas unable to rise, and shortly
tainted from loss of blood. When con-
sciousness returned, / found myself lying
on my back securely bound, the rest of
our party in the same predicament. and
our rough foes mounting guard over us
So you've come to, blast We have yer?
Well, Tn glad yer amt dead yet for !
owe yer one for my horse, said Morgan
I easily recognized him in the flicker
ing glare of the fire they had lighted
giving me a brutal kick. They assisted
US 10 rise, blind-folded our eyes with
bandnges, and led us along by the sides
of their horses. EYER thought 10 trap
us, did yer 2" said Morgan with an oath. /
Il guess the boots on tother leg. Yer
amt got long TO live so spit ont yer
prayers II yer know any. Say mates,
the poor wretches may want TO say
prayer or two before they kick Off Let's
hang them over this precipice not by
their neck though. Wen fix the thing
after j new fashion. Knot the end OF
each rope, and put it into their hands
When they are tired OF holding on they
can just let go, and hurry off to kingdom
come of their own accord"
This proposition met with unanimous
assent, and the fends chuckled as they
hitched the ropes 10 the end of n fallen
tree that hung partly over the chasm.
We were bhnd-folded, and / could only
conjecture their movements by their CON
yersation. Then they unbound my arms,
placed the knotted ends Of n rope in my
hands, lowered me slowly over the brink,
and let me swing over in mid.nir They
followed the same course with six COM
panions, and then rode of laughing.
Never shall forget the agony cf the |
time when hope seemed forever fed 1t
was highly improbable that assistance
could arrive in time TO save us, for it is
not possible to hang for any length Of
time with the whole weight OF ones
body solely upon the hands. All my
past life coursed vividly through my
mind every little g-forgotten episode
Of boy-hood came fresh into my recol- !
lection. / thought of home, of friends
-ay, Of the old fellow, whom you know
is very dear to me and prayed earnestly |
for salvation in the nigh-drawing eterni- |
ty. Still / held on. The tenacity with |
which man, when in awful peril, clings |
to life, is marvellous, and now or at any |
other time, do not believe could sus-
tain my weight for half SO long as did
then. / thought of the yawning chasm
beneath me, in fancy saw cruel rocks
hundreds of feet below which would re-
ceive my mangled carcass. At last the
agouy of suspense proved too much for
my nerves I felt my fingers relaxing
their hold, and, as the knot slipped from |
nv oraaY1 haoanna iuaanoil,Ia Pravnt |