The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-09-13
settled with few sound cuts

OF his whip.
The horse took no notice of Billy's
angry shout OF "Whoa, Blinker p other
than tc display both his hind hoofs, and
move away ut increased speed.
Billy threw down his whip and set of
after his faithless steed, exhorting him
to stop, in very strong terms. But
Blinker, having got the start, kept it,
and the boy soon lost sight OF him amidst
the thickets and sand-knolls.
To add to the lads discomfort, n
"scud had arisen. II began to rain
furiously. To escape q drenching, he
crept under grass-tree, the long, droop-
ing leaves OF which depended nearly to
the ground. ,..
1t continued to rain-as it rains only
in Australia-for mn hour or two. A
violent wind drove the binding sheets
of water. Billy could only remain where
he was, aud whit for the shower to pass.
When ut length the tornado slackened,
it was late in the afternoon, md owing
to the black, rolling clouds, it WIS rap
idly growing dark. The boy crept out
| iAoA lid oHcIttl, uuWeNtI, huat Hct VII ~
n round pace, knowing that il lie would
reach the rancho TINT night, he had no
time to lose.
His thoughts were occupied rather
with the prodigious hogging ho meant
to give Blinker than with the course
homeward, and it is not surprising that
in little time he found lie had lost his
way.
Ho was on m almost level plain, sur
rounded on all sides by scattered scrub
and by bare sand-hills that looked be.
wilderingly alike. Along the whole dim
horizon there was no mountain TO serve
as landmark. Billy was puzzled and
lost, but not frightened. He ran on ata
venture past thicket and hillock, till it
had grown dark; so dark, indeed, that
he could scarcely see, and had no longer
the least idea towards what point OF the
compass he was going.
The desert is not comfortable place
to be lost in, and Billy's sensations were
fur from pleasant. To fall into tho
hands Of the blacks and be kept pris.
oner, or perhaps be roasted and eaten,
were among the chances of remaining
long in the locality in which he found
himself.
On horseback there was little danger
Of being caught by the natives. On foot,
however, few Europeans would care to
try n racc with these long legged blacks,
with their boomerangs whistling about
his ears.
A kind Of large black snake, very nc.
tive, aud n deadly bitter, ia common in
tho scrub. Billy dreaded the snakes
almost MS much as the blacks. Then,
too, ho was wet, and the night was
chilly.
He had, however. bit of ",lampcr "
bread in the leathern pocket of his
jacket. This he ato'while peering about
for some nook or sheltered spot, where
he might creep to escape the cold wind
and to pass the night.
At the foot OF ono OF the bare lillocks
close at hand, hc presently saw large
rock half hidden by tho shaggy grnss-
trees. Pushing through the shrubbery,
he found that the rock ovcrhung on the
lower side, offering partial shelter.
Here ho sat down and determined to
remain till daylight. It was dreary
evening, md the slow hours dragged on
n still drearier night.
At first Billy was not inclined to sleep.
Once kangaroo passed ut n little dis.
5ance, making the ground iar heavily at
each OF its unwieldy leaps. Later, he
heard the low, shrill "pheet " of IL snake
close ut hand, and hastily threw stones,
sticks and dirt, to frighten off 30 unde-
sirable visitor.
! Two or three times he fancied he
heard queer sound Of snuillng further
mp under the rock, and concluded that
there was burrow OF wombats behind
the bowlder, who were dissatisfied be-
cause he had taken possession Of their
front doorstep. Bat though somewhat
large animals, Billy had very little fear
Of wombNts.
Towards morning he grew lrowsy, and
ut length fell asleep. At broad daylight
he awoke. Starting hastily, IL sudden
rumble caught his eur, md, turning, he
Hspied big mottled tail disappearing i'll
u rather large blncl; hole, tllnt seemed TO
lead back under the rock. Heccucluded
tho animal was n wombat that had proba-
bly, been observing him curiousIy.
"Tll dig you out Of here some day."
was Billy's mental comment. Then he
lmthought himself Of his situation, and
sat up to consider it. He felt hungry,
and by careful search he found u few
dirty crumbs OF "damper" III his leather
pouch, and ate them one by one.
While thus engaged, n sharp swapping
of twigs drew his attention. 1t came
nearer, anil II moment later there burst
through the trailing leaves the lean,
black paws, and gray, woltlsh head Of n
native dog.
At sight Of him, Billy jumped up in
sudden apprehension. The dog snarled,
then barked noisily. Immediately there
arose u low, peculiar cry, apparently not
a hundred yards of. 1t was answered
from nil about" Cooc cooe :"
The blacks were abroad OIL hunt.
Billy's heart almost camo through his
ribs. II he ran, the dog would follow
him, and the whole pack of natives
would soon be at his heels.
Hc glanced helplessly around. The
wombat hole met his eye. Tho blacks
were coming. There was no time to
think twice. Billy instantly resolved to
takc his chances with the wombats, and
dived into the hole.
The dog snapped and tore Mt his boots,
but he wormed his way in. The hole
led straight back under the rock eightor