The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-24


roo, when l felt almost ashamed to
hunt it, for tho poor beast sat on its
hind logs and tail for few moments,
turning upon us its simple doe-lko
face, as much as to say How can be
you such brutes?' but it turued di-
roctly, gave bound that started
me, and was off, flying over rockland
bush in a most surprising manner,
Then dogs were slipped, and away
we We're scrambling among bushes
and rocks, tripped up now and thcn,
but making IL rush over every bit Of
open ground to try and keep tho
dogs in sight, but as to my hest and
solf, wo were separated directly.
Il was not much usol to this sort
OF thing; but ! soon warmed up to
the chase, and now getting peep ut
the dogs, and now led by shouting
and barking, managed to got up in
pretty good tmo to whore tho black
fellow. was dancing about with de-
light, and the convict WIS coupling
up tho dogs, as they lay painting, and
lolling out their great red tongues,
besides the kangaroo they had killed.
"Long as | had been in the coun-
try it had never fallen to my lot be-
fore to be ut tho death of n hangar 90,
and once moro l could not help pit
tying tho soft skinned animal, it
looked so innocent, tamo and sim
pie. But thorcl it docs not do for
mon who hunt to be too sentimental,
and, besides, they may make mis-,
take in tho character of their quarry,
for I've never seen the animal yot
that was not, when driven to bay, a
perfect savage, eithor from lear OF
natural courage.
"Whcro's the governor, SIR said
the man, as | came up.
"I have not seen him since,
tripped over q crooper that como
down crash--bruisod myself nwfully
lie did not stop when | won't down
| thought That he would bo on here.
"Help!l help!' came fainL cry
from the distance.
"Dat gubncr!' exclaimed th,
black fellow, grinning as il it WAS the
most humorous thing he had oyol
heard.
"'Yos, that's him, said tho con
Wet, changing color, 'llo's among
the blncks, and we've no gnn1.
"In u moment there lloatcd bcfor'
mo Visions of saya%oS IN their Wa
paint, their black bodies strcMko,
with white to resemble skeleton
while boomcranss and spears sccmc'
to come whistling through tho Nil
But it was nll Imagination; for tier
wAs no sound to bo heard, but one
moro tho cry for help, whom the dog
Icnpod up aud howlcd.
"No black follcr bout here, silt
tho genllomnnss in our company; wh"1
following his example, we soL If N
IL run in tho direction of tho cries
tho black far outstripping us, thougl
We kept him well in view ill no d,s
appeared behind somo rocks, but ON
ly to turn back directly and to come
running towards us, shouting, Ol
man got him-olo man got him!'
awe pressed ON, painting heavily
and in few moments wolo in ful
view of the slrangcst sight / eve
saw in my life, one which seemed t'
paralyzc the man with the dogs, foI
he stopped short, holding tightly by
tho leash, i'll spite of tho angry strug
giles OF the animals and his mastor'l
angushod cry for help. There, some
fifty yards in front, was q iercestruS
gle going on, apparently II vain on'
on the part of my host, who WIZ
tightly claspod round the waist by I
tremendous great kangaroo, such n'
we settlers call IN old man.
"Righ.? growled ihe sea captain
while the thin mans oyos twinklcd
maliciously.
"It was in II bushy part, and from
the branch he held in his hand it was
evident that my friend hnd bcel
clinging with all his might to sont
tree or other. 30 rs to hinder his emo.
my, or else I'm afraid we should have
come too late.
"Dropping the branch, he now be,
gan kicking and struggling with the
energy of despair, striking iierccly ut
the bvnst with his fists, and doing all
that he could to got away; but there
is no doubt that, if we had not come
up, the next minute would have been
his last, for, in spite of his struggles,
tho old man kept on slowly, hop
hop-hop, nearer to great water
hole, and though strong and hearty
man, my friend seemed like child
in his encmy's grasp.
I4oose the dogs" I shouted to the
convict servant, but, utterly confused,
he only held on tightly, letting the
faithful beasts drag him along with
them till, with ono cut of his knife
that ho held ready to skin the dead
kangaroo, the black severed the
leathern thong, and, coupled rs they
were, the dogs dashed down upon
tho odd man.
"Then came fierce, hurrying iush
and acramblo "a frightful howl J.
and ono dog turned over on its back,
disabled by q kick, and then half
stranglod by being dragged about by
its companion, who had mado good
its hold upon the kangaroo's throat.
The dog shook liercely till, in its
agony. the beast loosed its hold upon
my friend, who fell down exhausted
just upon the edge of tho water hole,