The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-10-15

his gun and fired. The human figure
seemed to sink down SO quickly, so
calmly, SO helplessly, that felt strange
thrill of pity.
ssHe's fixed as safe as houses; let's
physic another or two, and maybe they'll
make tracks" again muttered the shep-
herd, in tone of suppressed glee.
."Cook, why the devil don't you shoot ?
Squint around that first block to the
right of the wattle.''
Looking in the direction indicate by
Mat, whose eyes seemed everywhere, I
saw the figure of man partially visible
against the ground. He was evidently
sheltering himself from the other tvJs
guns, but, owing to my silence hitherto,
heemust have been of the opinion thai
unoccupied. For an instant I could see
nothing through the the smoke, but it
cleared almost instantly. Just as the
shepherd said sDon't shoot again-he's
fixed" saw the poor wretch staggering
wildly towards the hut, and then falling
with a dull sound. God forgive me, it
was very like murder This was tie
the first life had ever taken. The
next thing I remember was Mr.. S.
asking me if had run any bullets.
ssNot one."
.'Have you any in the hut?"
"Not one"
Mat informed us that we were 'stree'd,"
much in the same way as he woulG
tell the overseer that the rations were
short. He quietly pulled his gun from
the loophole, saying, 'sTve only one
more pill to keep our skins whole.
Well hev to trust to Doctor"
.'Mat's dog Doctor was partly Smith
field and partly Newfoundland. He
had been trained by him to all sorts of
took written messages to the station,
when attached to his collar, and pre-
sumo this was the object Mat had in
view when referring to him as capable
of procuring relief.
mister, dye think you kin rite q
missage in the dark, or by the moonlight,
askin' the hands at the Homestead to
come this way? No time to lose; see
the darkies lodging round the hut
Bill, knock away the low part of the
rotten slab behind your back. Here,
Doctor
The message was scrawled and fast
ened to the dogs collar in little less than
minute, and the noble brute, who
seemed to know the danger, stood anx-
iously trembling till the preparations
were completed.
As I before stated, the hut stood close
to the stream, and from the rear the
bank sloped abruptly toward the water.
The American for the first time seemed
affected. When the man fell under our
shots, there. was not the slightest change
perceptible in his voice; but the words
he spoke to his dog were broken and
singularly soft. I'll be sworn there were
tears in the mans eyes. Everything
being at last prepared he spat upon the
cheek for q moment, and then pressed
him quickly out of the hole and away
down the shelving bank.
We listened anxiotsly for time, and
then there arose q wild jabbering for a
minute; the next instant we detected a
yelp of pain.
ssMy Godr' said involuntarily, "the
Doctors speared."
"No, he arn't, darn yep snapped Ben.
.Hes jist touched, and no more. He'll
do it,
tHe must be quick, then," said Mr..
S.; s'the black devils have struck q
light somewhere, and they're going to
burn us out. Look!'
Our eyes were now intently scanning
the movements of the savages through
the loopholes, and we saw flaming
brand whizzing through the air and
scattering sparks in all directions. It
fell on the stringy bark roof above our
heads. Another and another came, but
it did not appear to us that any of them
had taken effect.
By this time the black fellows had
gathered courage. Believing that our
ammun5nn waanEpended, many of them
had left Eer and might be seen fitting
about Ii lecters. They had kindled a
fire 2istai y off, and across it's
glare ggas1;gl 0ws were almost constantly
The fire brands were thrown 4n0Qre;
some fresh mode of attack was Prepaf
ing. Our suspense continued for long
period (nearly half an hour) -during
which time not a word was Spolen by
any of us. Our soul dependence was on
the Doctor; and if help did not soon ar
rive it was certain we could find no es-
cape from the demons who were trying
to compass our destruction.
"Now. look slick" whispered Mat.
ST see their game; they're goin' to give
us ITS. How's the moon?-well aback
of the hut, I guess. Bill, stick Your
cabbage tree on pillow, and hold it at
the open window when tell you. I'll
just go out and bid them good evening.
Don't bar the door after me, mister, but
when snow them my heels open it.
You see we can't spare ammunition"
While speaking Mat unbarred the
door. He slipped out noiselessly as he
concluded the sentence.
Through the slabs he said to me;
'sD'ye see that devil with the blazin' log?
When he gifts close to the waffle, open
the window and prop up the pillow.
Take care OF their spears yourself"
AS soon as the black fellow came to
the point indicated, I opened the long
little shutter with some noise and held
up the dummy. In moment dozen
spears passed through the aperture, and
I let the window fall as though one of us
was mortally wounded.
There was wild shout without. At
this time the black fellow who carried
the log was within few yards of the
hut, and heard Mat preparing for his
move outside. Looking out as quickly
as could, had just time to see his tall
figure emerge beyond the shade as the
butt end of his gun fell crashing on the
head of the fire bearer. The door was
opened as Mat turned; it required but
one or two bounds to take him to the
door, but the savages were too quick for
him with their spears He staggered