The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1881-04-23

growing on the landscape Al hrst we
could discern the outlines Of the trees, and
then, a IT,, night VT c-ed C, "! l sea- cd
grass between the shadows. There was
Ion. time of silence. Mat, Mr.. S ard
myself had our barrels through the lo"p-
holes and were closely watching for any
movement outside. The Convulsive shud-
dering OF the horse had ceased, and there
was pain i'll silence. The squatter and
Mat were like two statues. and notwith-
standing the quiet breathing OF the dog and
! the croaking Of the frogs along the river,
there seemed to be trigi,tul Significance
in the silence that was broo.ling above
these sounds. Every instant ] was expect
ing a rush from the outside, but there vas
not sign nor sound to betrav the pres
encc OF any enemy The sheep were
camping quietly round the hurdles. 81.
lcncc-thc bright moon-the white f1ceces
mingling with the color Of the grass--the
still >hawows Of the trccs-the fan black
fDrcst-thc spectral tracery OF the branches
in the moonlight. The silence was terri
bic. One ol the outside wcthcrs rose and
walked forward few yards, then com.
ncnccd stamping quickly ON the ground.
Darn my eycs!' said Mat, for the first
time breaking the silence, "if the Ole Par.
son hain't sighted one Of the nj gers"
The Die Parson" WAS patriarch wether
that was afflicted with the .foot.rot, and Vi.
nallv fed on knees.
80 he has; and by gum, there's
crowd-the whole tribe hev come to visit.
Not enough in shade, boss" continued Mat,
after another interval, and in hard.whis.
pcring tone.
The next moment the first report rang
out into myriad echoes. A shrill death.
shout followed, as the dark figure Of u man
leaped with sudden force from the am.
bush and fell prone, gurgling out blood and
broken words.
"Now, boss" said NJ It, looking out, but
still char ,ing; FIFTY yards t, thu right OF
the hurdle"
Boss (Mr. S-). changed the direction
, OF the gun and fired. The human figure
seemed to sink down so quick, SO calm.
~, so h>l:,lcs.ly that felt a strange thrill
Of pity.
| "llc's fixed safe as houses; let's physic
another or two, and maybe they will make
tracks," again muttered the shepherd in II
, tone of suppressed glce. "Cook, why the
devil don't you shoot: Squint round thai
! - ~. zrsl
Looking in the direction indicated by
E Mat, whose eyes seemed everywhere, saw
the figure Of a man partially visible. against
] the ground. lie was evidently sl,elt:rinl
!. himself from tive other two guns, but ow
s In: tn my silence hitherto, he must have
r been Of the opinion that the portion Of thu
). hut where stool was unoccupied. For III
. instant could see nothing through tn
a sn,ke, but it cleared almost Immediately
i Just as the shepherd said: "Don't shoe
;. again-he's fixed" saw the poor wretcl
staggering willy towards the hut. ant
:. then falling with dali sound. God for
!. give, it was very like murder. This Wa
\, the frat lie ! had ever taken. The mex
i thing remember was Mr.. s. a>kin
me IL had run any bullets.
h Mot one"
!: "llave you any in the hut"
r "Not one"
r; Mat uniformed ~ that We " re tire ID
| much in the sam. way as he woull tell tn
overse, r that the rltions were short. II
IN q,.i fly ,u!lcd his gun from the loophol
saving: "lvc only onc more pull to kec
r our skins whole. Wen hcv to trust I
" Doctor"
i. Mats dog Doctor was partly S,nitl
field and partly II Newfoundland. II
had been trained by him to all kinds I
!" tricks. Among others, he repeatedly to"
il messages to the station when attached I
III his collar, AMI presume this was the ol
Il; ject Mat had in view when RETIRING to hi
as Capable OF relief.
T.. "Mister, dye think you kin rite a mi>saa
a. in the dark, or by tn. moonlight, a>kin' III
- hands 1T t.e llomc ,tca To com this wa,
No time to lose; sec the darkics do,lsin
round til, hut. Bill. knock away the l.,
part Of the rotten slab behind your h.t
Here, Doctor
" The message was >crawlcd, ANA .:.>trnt
u to Doctors collar in II little less than
4 minute, an l the noble brute. who seem.
to know the danger, stood anx;ors
r. trembling ill the rr.mn ations were col,
u plete.., wt,n'he Sln,t upon the dogs nuzzl
~ held his head close to his cheek tor ii ~
n.nt, ana then pressed him quickly out
ri the hol, and ava. down the shslvi'
he hank. IA
Nu W. listened anxiou>ly for time. u,
liz then there arose vii! ahh ring inr mi
rp ute; the Ext in slant ". detect Il i vclp
in pain.
he My God" sail |. Involuntary. IT
u Doctors spear.d."
nj $40. II. amt darn vc!!" snapped NJ
M lies ju>t touched an M more. lIcll
iii t."
~ "ilc mus. III quick. them" said n
s.: ",hc black devils have struck
CT light son,w here, and thrv'rr going to b,,
. us out Look
". Our eyes were nv int nj. >.annin, I
II. movements OF the >a>ayr> through the