The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-02
A LUCKY STROKE.

~AeON*HtSs
A LUCKY STROKE.
ION MORTON was young English
fellow. who lived in Australia. He
had been there for two or three years
and greatly enjoyed the outdoor life
which he led, for, as his father was an
extensive sheep-farmer, he had plenty
OF opportunities for all the open-air ex-
ercise the most active and healthy
boy could desire. If anything was
wanted from the town, twenty miles
away, or if anything was to be done
at the farthest point of the sheep
range, Tom was the fellow to mount
his horse and ride away to attend to
the matter.
One day he had had very long
ride, and, coming back late in the
afternoon, he thought he would try a
short cut. To do this, he must ford a
small river, which was bridged few
miles above. He knew that there was
forbade place in the stream, some
where near where he was, and if he
could find it, it would save him nearly
all the distance to the bridge and back
again.
He thought that he could better ex-
plore the bank of the river on foot.
and so he tied his horse to a tree. and
made his way through the reeds to the
water. There were not many trees
hereabout, and he could see better than
in the woods where he had been rid
ing, but he could find no place which
looked as if it had been used as
a ford. He walked quite a distance
up the stream, and was about to
give up his search when he heard a
sound which startled him. 1t was like
tootstep upon cracking twigs. He
stopped and listened. He heard an
other--many of them!
He greatly wondered who could be
stealing along in this way; but as he in
cautiously looked up over the reeds. he
was amazed and frightened. 1t was a
band of native blacks, or bushmen. AS
they are called, who are often as danger
Gus to meet as the hostile Indians of our
Western plains. The savages were
armed with spears, and were approach
ing the river. 1t is probable that they
had no idea that any white person
was near by, until Tom so rashly
raised his head above the weeds.
Then great shout gave token
that they saw him, and instantly every
black rascal of them rushed toward
yells.
Poor Tom had not moment to think
what he should do. There was onlv
one thing that he could do, and that
was to jump into the river. He threw
off his hat and sprang into the water.
without hesitating a moment.
His first idea, which he formed
as ne gave his jump, was to
swim under water to the opposite
bank. but he soon found that he could
not do this. The river was too wide.
and he could not hold his breath lone
enough. He soon would be Obliged to
how his head above water. and the
moment he did this he might expect to
have half dozen spears hurled at him.
SO, before his breath gave out, he turn
ed and swan back to the bank from
which he started, coming up gently
among some tall reeds growing in the
water. Here he crouched, with only
his head above the water, and watched |
the enemy.
The current had carried him some |
little distance down the river. but the |
blacks were not far from him, some ON |
Inc bank and some standing in the |
water. By the attitude of the latter.
whom he could plainly see, he supposed
hat they all were waiting with spears
poised, ready to hurl them at him the
moment his head appeared above
he surface.
But it did not appear, and, judging
rom their cries and movements, thew
seemed much astonished at this. Thew
lad seen him go down, why didn't he
'ome up? Even if he had swum across
lnder water, the opposite bank was in
I'LL sight and they could have seen him
when he reached it.
But as he did not appear, they must
AVE concluded that he was capable of
laying under water like fish. or that
le had struck stone or sunken LOO
Vhen he dived, and had been stunned
they thought he was some
where at the bottom, for they all waded
up to theirwai SITS, and began thrust
ng their spears into the water.
Some went up the river. and some
rent down; they even crossed over,
or the water was not higher than their
hlns, and wickedly jabbed their spears
own to the bottom at every step.
Poor Tom trembled. Had not the
ayiight been so nearly gone they
light have seen the reeds about him
lake little. At any moment they
night thurst their spears into the very
lace where he was crouching!
But they seemed to fancy that ne
Just be at some distance from the