The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-09-29
SAVED BY THE DOCTOR.

ham, Victoria, Australia. Where the ex-
act locality is I have no intention of di-
vulgiug; but If any OF my readers are ac-
quainted with the part Of the world re
ferred to, they will remember that there
exist one or two large streams within the
wide radius l have named. Beside one
of these rivers there was standing. about
twenty years ago, but, which was known
at the Homestead as the Deep Water
Station, and it was here my lot placed
me as hutkeeper. / lived at the Deep
Water Stntion for two years.
| remember I was sitting Mt the hut
| Che Deep Water Hut one summer after
noon, looking for the coming Of 'Long
Mat" The sun was passing away blood
red behind range of dim blue hills; long
shadows were fast spreading; tire deep
water-hole had lost the light; the hills
behind the river were just tipped with a
crimson glory, and stars seemed drop
ping like silver specks on the paling sky.
Long Mat, the shepherd, waB later than
usual.
The darkness had not quite fallen be-
fore [ recognized the bleating of the flock
In the distance, and soon after the white
feeces of the sheep slowly appeared from
out the somber shadows of the trees. /
had just walked inside the hut to prepare
supper, when the quick, mufied fall of a
horses feet became audible. l knew the
canter well, and came to the door to await
the arrival OF Mr.. S., the owner Of
the station. He galIoped up to tie hut,
with cheerful GOOD evening, Bill"
and as usual came inside to ask me if
wanted anything, and to light lis pipe.
81 can't stay long with you this time,
Bill" he said pleasantly, but with little
anxiety; ''the black fellows are about
again. hope your gun is in order. Do
you want any powder or lead?"
"Te have quite enough" I replied,
"both Mat and myself; but there's no
bullets; I'll run them TO morrow. Mats
rather late this evening; but the fock's
not far off; they'll be home in quarter
of an hour; I saw them pass the belt be-
fore you came"
At this instant the shadow of man
darkened the door and Mat entered.
"Good evening" he said quietly to
Mr.. s. and myself. ''The sleeps
feedin' home all right, sir, but there's a
few missin'. One of my marked ewes is
gone, and [ can't see two of the crawl
ers.'
''You'll pick them up tomorrow, Mat"
replied the strong, pleasant voice of the
squatter. "Bill says you've enough pow
der and lead. The blacks are about; do
you know that?"
Without waiting for an answer Mr..
s. proceeded to undo his horse and
was about to mount when Mat (who was
an American) said; "I guess you had
better stop tonight, sir"
"Why?"
'Tniuns is close up. One Of the sheep
I spoke of was speared."
81 heard there were 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 panikin of tea,
and, contrary to his custom, standing bis
gun against the table.
We looked at him inquiringly. He
kept his eyes wandering over and around
the focks while he explained: "Wall,
you see, sir. after seein' the spear wound
on the crawler, I looked about me pretty
sharp, but couldn't see nothin' till 7 was
leavin' the belt there, when [ sighted one
Of the varmints wrigglin' through the
grass like snake. 1 was Goin' TO give
him pill, but saw another wrig2lin'
in his wake. aud then another; and, CON
tinued the narrator, with something like
glow of expectation, ''they aiu't far of
now, I 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 whizz.
e. through the open doorway, and quiv-
ering in the slabs behind.
"By gum
More remarks were drowned by loud
quiveyiug snort from the poor horse; a
moment after, and he rolled heavily
across the hut door, completely blocking
up the entrance.
Mat muttered away: First rate for US
coons Ye'd' better bar the door, Bill!
Doctori Doctorl Doctor psf. psf, Here
lad" The dog leaped OF The shepherd.
"By gum," he said, 81 thought he was
outside"
BY this time AIr. s. was cooiy re-
connoitering through the loophoIes. He
had let down the window, and was pre-
pairing for action as unconcernedly as
the shepherd.
These quiet brave men inspired me
with confidence, and remember think.
ing, as ] threw water on the fire so as to
extinguish the light, that the black fell
lows had met with their match. b. this
time the moon was up and the light was
gradually growing on the landscape At
ff.sE we couId discern the outlines of the
trees, and then, as the night gathered,
the white scared grass between the shad-
ows. There was long time OF silence.
Mat, Nr. s. and myself had Cur bar
reis through the loopholes and were clos
lng watching for any movement outside.
The convulsive shudderings of the horse
had ceased and there was a painful 81
Ience. The squatter and Nat xyera lilo