The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-02

uttering the most frightful oaths. The
entire saloon was in an uproar in an in
slant. Revolvers and knives were
drawn, and dozen voices shouted out,
What is the matterY"
&C Matter enoughl' replied The invad-
ing digger, with another volley of ex-
pletives. The escorts been attacked,
and the COLDS gonel'
I" Words fail to describe the scene that
ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced, and raved like madmen. When
the tumult had somewhat subsidized, l
managed to make out that the wagon
had been attacked in the dead of night
by party of armed rangers. A fight
had taken place, but trooper had been
killed, and the gold had been taken.
The attack had evidently been pre-ar-
ranged, for half of the troopers had
been found drugged, and were conse-
quently unable to fight Three of them
were reported missing, Mapping Bill
amongst the number. l went off to our
tent, and told Sandy. You're right
about the villain, but we'll be even with
him yet'
ave went back to the saloon, where
we found nearly all the diggers assem-
bled, listening to an account of the af-
fair from one of the troopers. 1t appear
ed, that shortly after leaving the camp,
the aXletree of the wagon broke, neces-
stating stoppage. Night came on and
found them still delayed by the broken
wagon. Rain fell, and some of the
troopers took little spirits to keep out
the cold. About midnight, the troopers
who were acting as sentries were alarm
ed by the rush of half-a-dozen mounted
bush-rangers. They endeavored to wake
up the others, but they were overpower-
ed, and fastened to the trees. The con-
tents of the wagon were divided among
the gang, and they soon rode off, follow
ed by Mapping Bill and three troopers.
In the morning, the bound troopers
managed to awake the others by their
cries, and then it was found, by their
condition, that the spirits must have
been drugged, hence their inability to
offer any resistance.
eve held hasty council and decided
to send to station four miles away, fer
fresh troopers. BY means of fleet
messenger, a search party was organized
and they left the camp two hours later,
proceeded by the black tracker to point
out the trail. Luckily, managed to be
enrolled among the party, much to my
satisfaction. 1 had q score to settle with
Mapping Bill and L intended to give a
good account of him if we met. We
numbered twenty resolute, well armed
fellows, carrying revolvers and knives,
whilst the twelve troopers with us had
revolvers in addition.
"We proceeded first to the scene of
the encounter. We found the wagon
drawn off the track and overturned.
The black trackers soon took up the trail
and we went into the bush in Indian
file. Our progress was necessarily slow,
but we were quite certain of coming up
with the rangers at last, We followed
the blacks for q couple of hours, then
one of them suddenly set up warning
cry, and we rushed forward. In the
centre of an open glade, we saw the body
of man laid upon the ground. Scat
tered around were bits of canvas, and
grains of gold glittering in the grass.
Examining the body we recognized it to
be person some of us had seen hang
ing about the camp few days previous
to the starting of the escort. A small
blue hole in his forehead told what had
happened. Evidently dispute had
arisen among the rangers, and this poor
fellow had been shot for his obstinacy.
We again took up the trail and proceed
ed. The bush now became less dense,
and we made greater progress. About a
mile further on, one of the blacks, who
was some hundred yards ahead, sudden
ly dropped flat on the grass, and gave US
a warning signal. Advancing cautious
ly to his side, we peered through the
bushes. Down in hollow were six
bush-rangers, seated around small fire.
Their horses were tethered near them,
and various packages were scattered
about. Our plans were soon laid. We
made detour, and completely surround
ed them. crept quietly through the
underwood, intending to reach a tree,
which grew about twenty yards from
the fire of the bush-rangers. Suddenly
hand was laid on my shoulder. hasti-
ly turned, and saw tall ranger close by
my side. He grasped me by the collar,