The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-05

with quick aim. At the crack of the pistol
the mark hoped of the stump, and Joe has
tened to pick 1t up deity substituting for it
the perforated potato, which he had Kept in
his sleeve for that purpose, and which he tri
umphantiy held up to the gaze OF the specta
tors.
Could you do that again, young man9'
SAID Eads when he had seen the effect of the
shot
IF wanted to brsg, would say that !
could 90 that every time " replied Charley
The fact is, l can do it just three times out
OF five. But / wouldn't have much use for
pistol il l was going to fight 1t is too apt
to miss fire, and you might bore half dozen
holes in q man without killing him. The
knife would be my weapon"
THE Enife is . sure card in close scrlm-
mage"
'Yes, or at long range, If man knows
how to use it. Could you stand here and
throw the point of your knife into that sap
ling yonder?'
Not by burned sight I've heard of
Iniuns doing those tricks, but reckon they
need power of practice"
Would you like to see me do it?"
"Beiieve | am kinder curious.
knife throwing was a sport with which
Charley White had once been so completely
fascinated that he had practlced the art until
he became almost perfect in it, excellIng
most Of the Indians, and nearly equaling
the japanese kniie-thrOwerS Of the present
day. He had practiced for this occasion,
and knew that he mad not lost the knack
He stood at the place he had indicated,
holding q heavy bowie-knife in the right
hand, with the blade under his wrist and
pointing towards his elbow. After measur-
ing the distance with his eye, he threw up
his arm, and then launched II out. and the
knife sped like streak OF lightning toward
the mark, struck the saplng, and hung Quiv
eriDg III the wood.
Charley was obliged to make two more
throws for the satisfaction of Eids and the
other spectators, who were not backward in
expressing their wonder and admiration at
his skill
II have another weapon" said he. "that
suits me better than either the pistol or the
knife; but suppose you have never seen it,
even if you have heard of it. Here it is"
He took from under his coat crooked
stick of bard wood, pointed at each end-in
fact. an Australian boomerang, relic OF his
South Sea experience.
What do you call that thing?' asked
Eads, whose mouth expanded into a grin as
he looked at the queer stick.
That" ssid Charley, lisa boomerang,
kangaroo killer, weapon with which ! can
hit man around the corner as we'll as if he
were in plain sight,
''(iit Quit"
lyon shall see. 1 will throw It at Joe,
yonder, and it will tura without hitting him
and come back to me-"
Charley threw the crooked stick, and it
gyratsd through the air, cutting all sorts az
lodged to avoid it. Then it suddenly
turned, whirled its way back, and fell 10 the
ground ct its owners feet.
Now l will throw it towards the West,
and you will see it turn and hit that sapling
in which stuck my knife"
The boomerang did SO, striking the young
tree with some forcs, but not hard enough
to fix itself in the wood
Charley then threw it on the ground, ard
it leaped over the prairie like a live thing.
describing the most eccentric figures, until
it turned and came whirling back, bounding
over his head, and sticking itself upright in
the ground behind him
Eads and his comrades gathered around
Charley as he picked up the boomerang and
wiped it, aud all looked at it curiously and
wonderiDgly; but none dared 10 touch it.
Some were OF the opinion that 1t was alive,
others allowed" that it wasa piece of witch
craft, and others declared tina: 1t could be
nothing less than Satan himself.
Tell you what it is, young man." said
Eads. you can shoot pistol to win on; you
can fling knife 10 beat any redskin on the
peralry; you can hita Teller with that whang.
where he is; and l reckon you'll do. Amt
in hurry for them S10 are your
Not bit of it."
Come around to Georges to night, and
we IL nave a supper peralry cDlckens, ana
antelope, and butler hump. and all the fix
ms. Sban't cost you cent and FL show
you 70 the boys. Bring that little 1rishman,
too"
Charley promised TO do so. and went to the
supper, and was duly introduced to "the
boys" and entered into a sort of a treaty
with them, the principal conditions of which
were that he should write sucn reports for
/ the Times as he chose to write, 50 long as he
did nothing out of malice or personal spite.
/ Thereafter the laws were be liter respected.
/ aud there was a marked Improvement in the
! tone OF society at Nugget City.
/ Charley pursued the even tenor OF his way,
( gaining friends on all sides, until, one I'M
lucky day. when he was taking notes OF a
street fight, he was hit and MORALLY
wounded by bullet intended for another
man, and the position OF local editor OF the
Times again became vacant.
sRyxxEG. THE SUR.rREASURY