The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-10-24
SAVED BY THE DOCTOR
AN AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE.

MA l. ~ Nv " - ~ I've
AN AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE.
The episode am going TO relate occurred
not far from the township Of Horsham Vic
toria, Australia. Where the next locality
Is, have no intention of divulging; but II
any of my readers are acquainted with the
part of the world I refer TO, they will remem-
Der that there exists one or two large streams
within the wide radius I have named. Be-
side one of these rivers there was standing,
about twenty years ago, a hut, which was
known at the homestead as the Deep Sta
ton, and IL was here that my lot placed me
as hutkeeper. lived Mt the Deep Water
for two years.
If readers of the following story wish TO
know who am, will crafty their curiosity
so far as to state that l was born
England. My father was retired
tradesman. lie gave me a fair educa-
ton, but never fulfilled the expectations
formed of me. This night, while write,
can show nothing to prove that ever sue
ceeded in the world. am poor clerk.
struggling for a bare existence, and some-
times struggling with wild, strong impulse
to wander and work through the country, as
often did before, near the scenes of my
former experience. like the red sunset and
wild plains as much as ever; like the glow
of the sunlight among the gnarled, queer
trees; like tho ripping rays Of the water
the waving, shadowy grass OF the silent
hills-the bright, still moon-the wilderness
away from towns; like Australian life, but
not among the dusty streets or near to white
sweltering roads. For twelve years followed
these impulses faithfully, and enjoyed my
bush-life, with little profit, It is true, but
with much of pleasure. All that have to
show for all my wanderings and hardships, as
Iwrite, is a long, ugly scar across my breast,
and am going to tell you how got it.
| l remember l was sitting at the hut (at
the Deep Water Hut) one summer afternoon,
looking for the coming of " Long Mat" The
sun was passing away blood red behind q
range of dim blue hills; the hills behind the
river were just tipped with crimson glory,
aud stars seemed dropping like silver specks
on the paling sky. Long Mat, the shepherd,
was later than usual.
The darkness had not quite fallen before l
recognized the bleating of the flock in the
distance, and soon after the white tieeces of
tho sheep appeared from out the sombre
shadows of the trees. had just walked in
side the hut to prepare supper, when the
quick, muflled fall of horse's feet became
audible. knew the canter well, and came
on to the door to await the arrival of Mr..
i the oWHeI VI thC atdtVH. AiC SoiioPcss
up to the hut with cheerful "Good even
ing, Bill" and as usual came inside to ask
me If wanted anything, and to light his
pipe.
81 can't stay long with you this time,
Bill" lie said pleasantly, but with a little
anxiety; "the black fellows are about again.
hope your gun is in order. Do You want
any powder or lead ?"
We have quite enough" replied, " both
Mat and myself; but there's no bullets; III
run them to-morrow; Mats rather late this
evening; but the lock's not far off; they'll
be at home in quarter of an hour; l saw
them pass the belt before You came."
At this instant the shadow of man dark
ened the door, and Mat entered.
GOOD evening"" he said quietly to Mr.
S. and myself. "The sleeps fndin'
home all right, sir, but there's few missin'
One of my marked ewes is gone, and can't
sss two of the crawlers."
"Yon'll pick them up tomorrow, Mat, u
replied the strong, pleasant voice of the
squatter. "Bill says you've enough powder
and lead. The blacks are about, do you
know thatH"
Without waiting for an answer, Mr.. s.
1 proceeded to undo his horse, and was about
to mount, when Mat (who was an American,
said: guess you had better stop tonight
SIR"
"Whyr
Injuns is close up. One of the sheep
} spoke of was speared.'
al heard there were black fellows about, >
said Mr.. S., delaying to mount, "but thu
ride is safe enough; I've got my rifle will
me-"
"They're too close, responded the shep
herd, after filling panikin of tea, and, con
!, trary to his custom, standing his gun agains
the table.
We looked at him inquiringly. He KEEP
his eyes wandering over and around tn
tiocks while he explained:
Wall, you see sir, after seein' the wOunt
ON the crawler, looked about me purt,
sharp, but couldn't 500 nothin' till abou
leaving the sheep when saw one of the var
| mint's wriggling along in the grass like
: snake. was goin' TO give him pull, bu
y another, and" continued the narrator, wit
something like a glow of expectation, I" the
I amt far of now, ] reckon"
, lie had scarcely uttered the words whe
! he lifted both hands and struck Mr.. s.
n ! in the chest with force enough TO drive hiI
to the extreme end of the hut. At the sam
instant spear whizzed through the ops
doorway and quiverred in the slabs b.
hind.
"By gum"
More remarks were drowned by lou
\. quivering snort from the poor horse
moment after and he rolled heavily aero
the hut door completely blocking up the el
trance.
Mat muttered away: "First rate for
coons Ye'd better bar the door, BIZ Do
tor Doctor DoctOrP psf Psti He
lad" Tho dog leaped on the shepher
"By gum" he said 81 thought he was on
side"
by this time Mr.. s. was cooljy recO
noitering through the loopholes. He III
Let down the window and was prepa
ing for action as uncOncernedly as the she
herd.
These quiet, brave men inspired me Wi
confidence, and l remember thinking, as
threw water ON the fire, so as to extinguii
all light, that the black fellows had IN
with their match. BY this time the moi
was up, and the light was gradually gro
ing ON the landscape. At first We could di
Germ the outlines OF the trees, and then,
the night withsred, the white scared gra
between the shadows. There was a lol
time of silence. Mat, Mr.. s., and mys,
had our barrels through the loopholes al
were closely watching for any mOveme
outside. The convulsive shuiders of Il
horse had ceased, and there was paint
silence. The s4uatter and Mat were Ill
two statues, and Notwithstanding the qui
breathing of the dog, and the croaking
the frogs along the river, there seemed to
u frightful significance in the silence tn
was brOoding above these sounds. Eve
n instant ! was expecting rush from the on
side, but there was not sign or sound to
tray the presence of any enemy. The she
were camping quietly round the hurdle
Silence--the bright mOon-the white heec
q. mingling with the grassland still shado'
g of the trees-the far black forest-the spt
% trail tracery Of the branches in the moonligl
." The silence was terrible. One Of the outsi