Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-10-05
FAITHFUL DOCTOR.


llorsham, Victoria, Beside one Of these
ivom there was standing, about twenty
wears ago, u hut, which was known NJ
the Homestead as Deep Water Station ;
and il was hero that my lot placed me
~ hut.kcopcr ! lived at tho Deep
Mater station for two years.
] was born In the north Of England.
Nv father was q retired tradesman, He
gave N @ fair education, hut ! never
fulfilled the expectation formed Of me-
This night, while ! write, ] can show
nothing to prove that ] succeeded in
tho world, am poor clerk, simg.
Cling for bare existence, and some
times struggling with wild, strong i'm.
pulse 10 wander and work through the
country, as ] often did before, near the
scenes of my former experience,
| like the Australian life, but not
among the dusty streets, or near to
white, swcltcring roads For twelve
years ] followed these impulses faith
fully, and enjoyed my hnsh'liic with
little profit il is true bnt with much
pleasure. All that | have 10 show for
all my wandcrihgs and hardshipa, ~ l.
write, Is n long, ugly scar across my
breast, and | am going 10 tell you how
! got IL.
| remember | was sitting ut the hut
the Deep Water hut one summer after.
noon, waiting for the coming of Long
Mat" The sun was rnssingaway blood
red behind range OF dim, blue hills ,
long shadows We're rapidly spreading;
the deep.water hole had lost the light ,
the hills behind the river We're just tip.
ped with crimson glory, and stars
seemed dropping like silver specks on
tie paling sky. "Long Mat" the shep
herd was later than usual
I had Just walked inside the hut to
prepare supper, when the quick, muilled
Mll of horses feet became audible
| knew the canter well, and came to the
,oor to await the arrival of Mr.. s.,
the owner of the station, He galloped
up to the hut, with n cheerful "Good-
evening, Bill" and as usual came inside
to ask me if wanted anything, and to
light his pipe.
'I can't stay long with yon this time,
Bill" he said pleasantly, but with lit.
tie anxiety; "the black fellows areabout
again. hope your gun is in order
Do You want any powder or lead?"
"We have quite enough" I replied,
"both for Mat and myself; but there's
no bullets "Ill run them tomorrow
Mats rather late this evening, but the
hock's not far Off; they'll he home in Il
quarter Of an hour; ] saw them pass the
belt before YOU came
At this instant the shadow OF a man
darkened the door, and Mat entered.
"Good -evenin," he said quietly, to
Mr. S. and myself. "The sleeps
feedin home all right, sir, but there's q
few missin'. One of my marked ewes is
gone, and can't see two of the crawl
ers."
Mr.. S. proceeded to undo his
horse, and was about to mount, when
Mat said : "I guess you had better stop
tonight, sir"
"Why?"
"Ininns is close mp. One Of the sheep
! spoke of was speared."
81 heard there were five black
fellows about" said Mr.. S., delaying
to mount, "but the ride is safe enough /;
I've got my rifle with me"
"They're too close" responded the
shepherd, after filling n panikin of tea,
and, contrary to his custom, standing
his gun against the table.
We looked at him inquiringly. He
kept his eyes wandering over and around
the hocks, while he explained "Wall,
ye see, sir, after seein' the spear wound
on the crawler, ] looked about me purity
sharp, but couldn't see nothin' till | was
leavin' the belt there, when / sighted
one of the varmints wrigglin' through
the grass like snake. I was goin' to
give him q pill but I saw another
wriggle in his wake, and then another
and" continued the narrator, with some
thing like glow of expectation, "they
amt far off now, / reckon
He had scarcely uttered the words
when he lifted both hands and struck
Mr.. S. full on the chest with enough
force to drive him to the extreme end
OF the hut. At the same instant spear
whizzed through the open doorway,
and quivered in the slabs behind
"By gum"
Moro remarks were drowned by
n loud quivering snort from the poor
horse u moment after, and he rolled
heavily across the hut-door, completely
blocking up The entrance.
Mat muttered away, "First rate for us
coons Y'd better bar the door, Bill !
Doctor! doctor! doctorl psf psf
Here lad" The dog leaped on the shep-
herd. "By gum," he said, 81 thought
he was outside"
By this time Mr.. S.. was coolly re-
connoitering through the loop holes. He
had let down the window and was pre-
pairing for action as unconcernedly as
the shepherd.
The next moment the first report rang