Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-31
SAVED BY SHEER LUCK.
lFrom Blsckwood's Magazine. l

FROM BlackWood's MRgaklne.I
l had been up counting the sheep, and
left the hut at dark on my road home. The
distance before me was about sixteen miles.
l rode along, my mind occupied with con-
lectures as to the best disposal of my sheep
during the trying drought. The road now
turned down into the river bed, and, pick
ing his way the best he could, my horse
cheerfully logged on his homeward path.
The mountains lowered in shadowy gloom
on either side above me as l rode along the
side of the river, which, although consid-
erably shrunk by reason of the summer
droughts, churned and foamed as it's rapid
current forced its way through the rock
barred channel. Occasionally the track
led through clumps of river oak saplings
and bushes, emerging from which [ could
discover bare patch of sand, and beyond
that shadow My horse knew the road,
however, and cared not. Half my time
was spent in similar lonely rides, and was
not nervous. was getting nightly hun
cry, however, beside which the mailman
was expected at the station, and l longed
to read my home letters. My horses shoes
clattered against the stones as / stuck my
spurs into his sides to urge him onward.
A sudden turning in the road showed me
a number of small fires glowing ahead. But
that they were stationary l should have
been inclined to think them caused by fire.
fies On my left there were more. The
sudden turning of the river had placed
some in front and some behind, and hither-
to the thick groves of flooded oak had
hidden them from my sight. On my right
frowned an overhanging erag l drew my
rein. Perhaps flor blacks often chatter
loudly in their camps) they had not heard
me. listened. Not sound, save the rush
ing, rumbling river current. 1t was, after
all, perhaps, only the remains of a bush
fire. Some of the logs were still alieht and
the night air had famed the embers into
glow. Again listened intently. If blacks
really were in the camp they must have
heard me coming no doubt they had bar
red the way ahead and behind. The broken
river channel forbade my trusting to fight.
What should do? Not three miles away
lay poor Donnelly, their victim, in his cold
grave of wet river sand. What was his
fate then might be mine in few minutes.
determined to keep still and wait for
what might turn up.
Presently heard bushes rustling some
distance behind, and the voice of black
fellow uttering, in the strange tone in
which the wild savage first pronounces
English words, Boodgeree," and again,
Boodgeree, white fellow" (good. good
white fellowl The sound startled me- /
drew my pistol. Some of them should
have daylight through them, l inwardly
vowed, if it came to a final struggle. Now
heard their low, rapid utterances, in va
rious excited tones, in 'front.' behind and
above me-the words "white fellow" being
repeated often. Escape was hopeless.
There was one chance for life in the incon-
sistency OF their behavior. | determined to
put bold face on the matter, appear at
home, laugh and talk with them, and, if
the worst came, sell my life as dearly as
possible. Accordingly, | shouted, "Hey
Come on boodgeree you, my boys, come
along |" and great deal more nonsensical
talk, which they could not have under
stood, but which served as well as any
thing else to show the confidence which [
tried to gull them into believing / yet
possessed. The effect was magical. A
simultaneous shout came from those near.
est. All around in fifty different places as
many voices broke into an uniptelligible
jargon, while from the camp the noise OF
womens voices could be heard as they
rendered advice or admonibion.
Knowing how useless it was to do any
thing else sat still on my horse, and IN a
few minutes was surrounded by dense
crowd of dark, savage-eyed wild men, all
fully armed with native weapons. More
kept coming. There was perfect Babel
of sounds. The gloom was SO great that
could only distinguish the dark, moving
figures and the long spears, or occasionally
the CLINT CT a pair of fierce, glittering eyes
shining out OF paint bedaubed visage.
Now they felt me all over. On feeling the
pistol, which | had returned to my belt,
the man who discovered it said something
to the others, who became still more ex.
cited. They now led me, still sitting on
my horse, across the ford Of the river to
their camp. And now, for the first time
could see the faces OF my captors and wild |
anddeyil-like they looked as their fires threw |
their light across them, Thick masses
of curly black hair, low foreheads,
short noses, large white teeth, and |
short boards On the upper lip and |
chin, seemed to strike me most f;
their eyes cleaned in the fire. blaze like |
burning Goals. A tall man, looking at me !
earnestly for some minutes, now commenced |
an animated harangue pointed to me sew
eral times, then pointing up the river imi-
tated the sound ola gun being fired, pointed |
to himself, and finished by addressing me |
rapidly at great length. From his manner
| guessed he was friendly to me for some |
cause or other, why | could not make out, |
but l determined to take advantage of the |
turn in my favor. My tall friend now made
signs that should dismount this did at |
once. had made up my mind to trust my
protector implicitly, and at any rate not to
show fear. | was by no means easy, how
ever, as my sable friend led me through the
tie scattered fires surrounded by a num-
Der OF blacks, who, as far as could guess,
seemed to coincide in bis views regarding
ne. Most Of the mob had departed to the
Tres which appeared behind me when
Asst came upon the natives.
found that there were two camps at
distance of about 200 yards apart, and
ny people belonged to the small camp.
We arrived at a fire which, from the signs
made, found was owned by the tall fell
ow with me. He made ceres Of gestures,
by which l understood him to intimate
that I was to partake OF his hospitality.
The only word of English he knew was
white fellow" This he repeated many
times. Sometimes he pointed to me,
then to himself, patted his breast and
smiled then he would point to the dis
tant camp, and shake his head and frown.
Sometimes he pointed to himself, initiated
the sound of shot, pointed to my pistol,
then up the river, then again to me,
looking eagerly at me to see whether /
him or not. / knew not
what he meant, bat feigned to under
stand him, and nodded, smiled, patted
him, and repeated the word ''boodgeree"
two or three times He at once
caught up the word and pronounced it dis
tinctly, and seemed much pleased. Things
now seemed on much more satisfactory
footing. My entertainer produced some
kangaroo meat, which he
warmed on the hot ashes then tearing off
a piece with his strong teeth, he offered it
to me. Knowing how necessary it was to
keep up the terms of friendship, | accepted