The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-10-24

mp with sudden force from tho ambuSn
and fell prone, gurglng out blood and broken
words.
"Now, boss" said Mat, looking out, but
still charging, "hfty yards to the right Of
the hurdle"
Boss (Mr. S--) changed the direction
of the gun and fred Tho human figure
seemed to sink down so quickly, so calmly,
so helplessly, that felt strange thrill of
pity.
7" He's fixed, safe as houscs let's physic
another or two; and maybe they'll make
tracks," again muttered the shepherd In
tone Of suppressed glee. "Cool, why the
devil don't you shoot Squat round that
block TO the right of the waffle"
Looking in the direction indicated by Mat,
whose eye seemed everywhere, saw the
figure of man partially visible against the
ground. He was evidently sheltering him
self from the other two guns, but owing to
my silence hitherto, he must have been OF
the opinion that the portion of the hut where
stood was unoccupied. For an instant |
could see nothing through the smoke, but it
cleared almost Immediately. Just as the
shepherd said: "Don't shoot again-hc's
fixed" saw the wretch staggering wildly
toward the hut, and then falling with n
dull sound. God forgive mo, IL was very
like murder. This was tho first life | had
ever taken. The next thing remember was
Mr.. s. asking me If had run any bull
let's
"Not one."
"Have you any In the hut 2"
"Not one."
Mat informed us that We were "treed, F"
much In the same way as he would tell the
overseer that the rations were short. He
quietly pulled his gun from the loophole,
saying; "Ive only one more pill to keep our
skins whole. Well have to trust to
Doctor"
Mats dog, Doctor, was partly Smithneld
and partly Newfoundland. lie had been
trained by him to all kinds of tricks.
Among others, he repeatedly took written
messages to the station when attached to his
collar, and presume that was the object
Mat had in view when referring to him rs
capable of procuring relief.
"Mister, dye think you kin write n mes
sage in the dark, or by the moonlight,
askin' the hands at the Homestead to come
this way No time to lose see the darkies
dodging round the hut. Bill, knock away
the low part of the rotten slab behind your
back. Here, Doctor
The message was scrawled, and fastened
to Doctors collar in little less than min
ute, and the noble brute, who seemed 10
till the preparations were completed.
As before stated, the hut stood close to
the stream, and from the rear bank sloped
abruptly toward the water. The American
for the first time seemed affected. When
the men fell under our shots, there was moi
| the slightest change peroeptible in his voice
but the few words he spoke to his dog were
broken and singularly soft. I'll be sworn
there were tears in the mans eyes. Every
thing being at last prepared, he spatIupon the
dogs muzzle, held his head close to his
cheek for a moment, and then pressed hin
quickly out of the hole and away down tn,
shelving bank.
| We listened anxiously for time, and ther
there arose a wild jabbering for minute
the next instant we detected yelp o
pain.
"My Godi said /, involuntarily, tn,
Doctors speared."
"Na, he arn't, darn yei" snapped Ben
"he's jist touched, and no more. Hell
do it,"
"He must be quick, then, "said Mr.. s.
"the black devils have struck light some
where, and they're going to burn us out
Look -
Our eyes were now intently scanning tn
movements of the savages through the littl
loophOles, and we saw n flaming brand whi2
zing through the air, and scattering spark
in all directions. It fell on the stringy bari
roof above our heads. Another and anothe
came, but it did not appear to us that any G
them had taken effect.
BY this time the black fellows had gath
cred courage. Believing that our ammun
ton was expended, many of them had lei
cover, and might be seen fitting about lils
spectres. They had kindled fire some dis
| tu,,c nH TO ri oI,o NvAt
constantly falling.
The firebrands were thrown no Longer
some fresh mode of attack was preparing
Our suspense continued a long period, (nearl
half an hour) during which time not a wor
was spoken by any of us; our sole DEEPER
dence was the Doctor; and If help did not 500
arrive 1t was certain we could find no escap
from the demons who were trying to compas
our destruction.
Snow, look slick" whispered Mat, I" SC
their game; they're going to give us fit
How's the moon we'll back of the hut,
guess. Bill, stick your cabbage tree on
pillow, and hold it at the open window whe
tell you. I'll just go out and bid thel
good evening. Don't bar the door after mi
!. mister, but when show them my heels Opc
it. You see we can't spare ammunition"
While speaking, Mat unbarred the doc
L
sentence.
Through the slabs he said to me, "D'y
see that devil with the blazing log2 Whe
he gifts close to the waffle, open the windo
and prop up the pillow. Take care Of the
spears yourself"
As soon as the black fellow came to Il
point indicated opened the long little shu
ter with some noise and held up the DUNN.
In moment dozen spears passed throuG
the aperture, and let the window fall
4. though one of US was mortally wounded.
There was wild shout without. At III
time the black fellow who carried the log WI
within few yards of the hut, and hea
= Mat preparing for his move outside. LoOkii
out as quickly as could, had Just time
y SEQ his tall figure emerge beyond the sha'
. . the head of the Are-bearer. The door open
y as Mat turned; 1t required but one or t,
!, ! bounds to take him to the door, but I
;, savages were too quick for him with thu
spears. He staggered through the entrant
and fell Just as lie cleared the threshold.
"Caught in the thigh, guess" he G
claimed as he slowly recovered himself, a
- painfully struggled to the window. Dol
70 mind the spear" he remarked TO me az l q
|" preached him; it's better as it is, till III
D comes"
"If 1t ever Does" thought l.
i, The Amsrican's sortie, believe, had ratl
:" disastrous effect, for the black fellO
!" seemed to conclude at once that our ann
80 milton was all expended, and they throng
y round the hut without caring to shel
themselves.
40 In short time the cracking of flames
~ the roof put an end to our trouble. The !
- |, was on fire, and there was nothing loft for
~ hut an attempt to dash out and clear
" aborigines. | proposed this, but Mr.. s.
, would not try without Mat, and undernei
"a the blazing roof, with dubbed guns,
:" grimly awaited the final attack. The Anne
cans rifle rested in tho loophole where
= had first taken up his position.
~, "There's the worst of them,' Mat IA
~ looking along his weaponj he's coming
y, with log to stave the door. He'll never
at it," and our last bullet brought down
a v' ringeader.
y, :" There was CONSERVATION and hurr
1 g,,lt nfa 1