The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-09

Ing ana smoking. L called Tor drink,
| filled my short Guilty, and took seat
among the card-players.
"'Well, Tom, how's your luckP said
| broad-shouldered Yorkshireman, who
! had come over with me.
| "'Very poor at present. replied.
"'Have a hand, then, man; winning
dust at poker is better than digging.'
81 joined the game and played for
while. At last one OF the play yers threw
up his hand, and said he was cleaned
out; SO, thinking it might be my turn
soon, | stopped. ] finished my glass and
prepared TO leave the room.
"Just as got to the door burly dig
ger came rushing in, almost upsettIng
me, and uttering the most trightiul
oathS. The entIre saloon was in an
upr0ar in an instant. Revolyers and
knives were drawn, and dozen voices
shouted out:
"'What is the matter"
"Matter enough vreplied the Invading
| digger, with another vOlley OF exple-
tives. 'The. escorts been attacked and
the COLDS gonep
"Words fail to describe the scene that
| ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced, and raved like madmen.
"Wnen the tumult had somewhat sub.
| sided, managed to make out that the
wagon had been attacked in the dead of
| night by party o. armed rangers. A
fight had taken place, but trooper had
been Killed and the gold had been taken.
"The attack had evidently been pre-
arranged, for half the troopers had been
found drugged, and were consequently
unable TO tight. Three OF them were re-
ported missing, Mapping Bill among
| the number. l went off W our tent ana
told Scotty.
| "'YoVre right about the villain, but
Wen be even with him yet.'
| 1--WE went back to the saloon, where
we found nearly all the diggers assem-
bled, listening 70 an account Of the al
fair rom one of the troopers.
ut appeared that, shortly after leav-
ing the camp, the aXletree of the wagon
broke, necessitating a stoppage. Ntgnt
came on, and found them still delayed
by the broken wagon. Rain tel, and
some OF the troopers took little spirits
10 keep out the cold.
| About midnight the troopers who
were acting as sentries were alarmed
ny the rush Of halfa-Iozen mounted
Oush-rangers. Ihey endeavored 10 wake
up the others, but they were oVerpow-
cred, and fastened TO the trees.
"Ihe contents OF the wagon We're di-
vlded among the gang, and soon they
rode of, followed by Mapping Bill and
LNree troopers.
"In the morning the bound troopers
managed to awake the others by their
cries, and then it was found, from their
condition, that the spirits must have
been drugged, hence their inability to
offer any resistance.
I'VE held hasty council, and decided
to send to Il station, four miles away,
for fresh troopers. BY means OF feet
messenger search-parLy was organ
lzed, and they left the camp two hours
later, preceded by the black tracker to
point out the trail.
LUCKILY, managed to be enrolled
among the party, much to my satlsfac-
Lion. L mad a score Lo settle with Wap.
plug Bill, and intended to give good
account OF him II we met.
"We numbered twenty resolute, we'll
armed fellows, Carrying reVUlVers anu
knives, while Lne twelve troopers with
US had rifles In addition. =
eve proceeded first 10 the scene of
The encounter. We found the wagon
drawn UH the track, and overturnsd,
1.-The black tracker ,on took up the
trail, and we went into the bush III In.
: dian file. Our progress was necessarily
slow, bat we were quIle certain OF cum
ing up with the rangers at last.
1--WE followed the U.acks IOr u couple of
hours, then one OF them suddenly sci up
warning cry, and we rushed lorwaru.
'lu the center OF an open glaze, we
saw The body OF man laid upon the
ground. Scattered around were bits OF
canvas, ana gralhs Of god glistened In
tue grass.
Examining the body, we recognized
1T TO be person some OF US had seeu
u ui a H. 40 no. 10 Il
vlUus w the st1rting OF the escort. A
small blue hole III The forehead told u.
what mad happened.
"Evldently dispute had arisen among
the rangers, and this poor fellow hal
been shot lor his obstlnacy. We again
took up tue trail, aud proceeded.
"lhe nuSh now became less dense, and
we made greater progress. About :
mile luther on, one oil the blacks, wht
was soms hundred yards ahead, sud
denly dropped Hat on the grass, ant
gave us u warning signal.
''AuvanClng Cautiously to his side. W.
peered through the bushes.
"Dowh i'll a hollow were six bush
rangers. seated around smuIl fire
fnelr horses were tethered near them
and various packages were scattered
, about. Our plans were soon laid. We
made detour, and completely sur
rounded them.
II crept quietly through the under
: wood, intending to reach tree, which
grew about twenty yards from the tirt
OF the bush-rangers. Suude..
ly hand was laid ou my shoulder.
hastily turned, ami saw tall ranger
close by my side.
"He grasped me by my collar, ,ant
presented revolver to my forehead.
"'One SOUND, ana Ill blow your
!, brains out,' he hissed.
"Resis tance WAS useless, so L submit
ted. He disarmed me, flung me on III,
the ground, and fastened my hands be
nlnd me with a cord he pulled from hi,
pocket. He then went few yardl
away, TO warn the rangers, suppose.
, heard ringing cheer, shots, oaths
and all the usual noise OF hanu-vo
hand encounter.
"Givlng a short and sudden wrench,
got Loose, and rushed forward to see the
fight. Just'as l advanced, L heard tive
suots tired almost simultaneously, aut
a bullet shaved past my head.
81 clapped my hand to my lett ear
Heaven the lobe was shot away. An
other inch, ana l should have beer
killed.
.L.,R,thor,o norrou ul,uo .L..n