Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-03-13
BEsET RX BUsHRANGERs.

OiAC uay WOEk Is over, Wnen we nave
finished our ''pampet,'' salt-beef and tea,
and are smoking our pipes round blaz-
ing log-fre, many strange story is told.
Ny men are old Bushmen, and up to a
thing or two, especially My Chairman.
He is a harum scarum, reckless, hand
some, genuine Irishman of very respecta-
bic family, induced to emigrate many
years ago as hopeless scapegrace. He
has knocked about New South Wales and
Queensland in all sorts of capacities.
fell in with him by chance. was fortu-
nate enough to save his life, engaged him,
and believe him to be as devoted and fine
a fellow as there is in the world.
A few years ago, Ny Chairman was
journeying in the direction of Sydney,
from a place in the interior, called, 1
think, Jimballah. Having stopped at
several public houses on the way, he
found himself still on his journey with a
ten-pound note, half sovereign, and
half-crown, in his pocket. About a hun
dred miles from Sydney, he found some
confusion in a public house which he had
entered to obtain refreshment. The land
lady was crying bitterly, and the SER
wants were in a great fright.
When he entered, the hostess eagerly
exclaimed:
F'You are not one of thin, are you ?''
HWhat do you mean?''
'foch, it's the Bushrangers name.
You aren't one of thim?''
''No. HaFe they been here, then?"
eyes, half an hour ago, and cleared my
house of all had. The widdy's curse be
upon thiml''
''HaTe they gone down the road, or
struck right into the bush ?''
@'Gone down the road to stick up all
they meet wid.''
SHOW many?'
FNThree; sorrow less.''
Now, My chairman must go down to
| Sydney. He could not take the bush for
it, as he did not know the country well
enough. He might evade the Bushrangers
by some lucky chance, either by the aid
of night or other means. He was dressed,
of course, in the gear of thorough Bush
man, and they might spare him on the
old Scotch principle, 'Hawks pyke not
oot hawks een.'' Besides he might con-
eeal his ten-pound note, and it would not
/ break his heart to lose his half-sovereign
and half-erown. On the whole, then, he
saw nothing for it but to resume his
journey. He chose his short sock as the
best place for the bank-note, and thrust
the note into it, without folding it up.
Forth he went, and rode rapidly on
for about half an hour without seeing the
i pau hnv1TouoV- Ia r SoA; Al.
| fresh tracks of four horses in advance.
At an abrupt turn of the road, he was
covered by three revolvers and addressed
by three voices:
stDismount!''
No help for it. He got off his horse,
and took survey of the GLORIOUS three. .
One was very good-natured looking fell
low; the other seemed rather backward !;
the third was an unmistakable ruffian.
'fWhere have you been? You're a
digger?'
F'I'm just coming from the Wanooran
fDiggins.''
These gold fields were noted for their
poverty.
elbow much money have you gotP''
fFOne half-sovereign and one half.
crown.''
F'Is that all ?''
tsThat's all.''
! It was the good-natured man who spoke
in this dialogue.
81 think, Jim, we may let him off. The
poor fellow must be hard up, coming from
those wretched diggins.''
| ECVo3II hova 70 co., Is
first, ," replied Number Three, whose ac-
cent was Irish; and this gave My Chain
man some hope.
''Well, at all events, he must have 6
glass of grog.'' My Chairman accord
ingly drank a bumper that took his
breath away. .
''Walk before me into the bush,' ther
said Number Three.
t'Not bit of it, Jim; let the poo
wretch go. Why, he's countryman o
your own. What do you say, Jack ?''
E'Never mind what Jack says!'' replied
Number Three. ssDon'tyou make an as
of yourself, Dick! I'll have my own wa!
: in this.''
He motioned to My chairman to go on
! and on he went until they reached bel
of scrub.
'EHaIti Now, listen to me. It's m.
! opinion that you are a schemer. fl fin
: one shilling on you more than you hav
/ acknowledged to Che swore terrific OATH
: I'll blow your brains out on the spot
e Stripp'
: My Chairman owned to me that for
d moment he felt mortal terror, but h
; shook it off and proceeded to undress.
e 'sTake off your jumper first-not you
e boots. Now your flannel shirt. Thro1
e them over to me.''
i He examined them thoroughly.
: ''Take off your boots. Throw ther
1t here. Now your trowsers.'
IS He found in the pockets the two coin:
is Ard My Chairman hoped that the scare
is was over. Not yet.
N F'Take off your socks 20
/ To hesitate was instant death. TIL
,s ruffian shook both the socks. Let IL
at reader fancy the beating of My Chail
e. mans heart, meanwhilel As he hs
st thrust the note into the sock without fol,
Ds ing it up, and as the robber had caugl
N the note with the thick sock between h
is finger and thumb, it was thus preventG
h from dropping out. To such small thins
er man may owe dear life itself.
Iy S'Now be OFF,
l. ''What!" said My Chairman. ''Wou
ps you send man away stark naked, and
Mt this weather, toO?"
r. "You ought to be thankful for 20,
IN Iife."
Is Just then, up came Dick.
ID 'Haven'tyou searched him yet? What
ne the use of keeping him in the eolds"
# "You mind your own business, Dick
a "Jim," retOrted Dick, ''yOu know