The National tribune., 1882-03-11

with his long grizZled beard, and sent n train
of glowing sparks from his pipe down the
street.
"a terrible night" he said, as he turned
back towards the fire
Yes, wild tempcstuous night; a night
for birds of darkness and beasts of prey
A strange night for seven men TO lie ont in
the gully ut Bluemansdyke, with revolvers
III their hands and the devil in their hearts.
The sun was rising after the storm. A
thick heavy steam reeked up from the satu-
rated ground, and hung like pail over the
ffourishing little town of Trafalgar A
blush mist lay in wreaths over thu wide
track of husband around, ont of which the
western mountains loomed like great islands
in sea of vapor.
Something was wrong in the town. The
most casual glance would have detected that.
There was a shouting and hurrying of feet.
Doors were slammed and rude windows
thrown open. A trooper of police came
Gathering down with his carbine unslung.
1t was past the time for joe Buchan's saw
mill to commence work, but the great wheel
was motionless for the hands had not ap
pcared.
There was surging pushing crowd in the
main street before old Tom BrOadhurSt's
house, and n mighty clatter OF tongues.
"What was it?" demanded the newcomers,
painting and breathless "Broadhurst has
shot his mate" "He has cut his own throat"
ale has struck gold in the clay floor Of his
kitchen" "No, it was his son Maurice who
had come home rich" "Who had not come
back at all" "Whose horse had come back
without him" At last the truth had come
out; and there was the old sorrel horse in
question whinnying and rubbing his neck
against the familiar door of the stable, as
if entreatng entrance; while two haggard
gray-haired men held him by either bride
and gazed blankly at his reeking sides.
God help me-" said old Tom Broadhurst,
"it is as feared!"
Cheer up mate" said Hutton, drawing
his rough straw hat down over his brow.
There's hope yet"
A sympathetic and encouraging murmur
ran through the crowd.
"Horse ran away, likely"
"Or been stolen"
COR he's swum the Wawirra an been
washed off," suggested one Jobs comforter.
"He amt got no marks of bruising," said
another, more hopeful.
Rider fallen Off drunk, maybe" said
bluff old sheep-farmer. Il kin remember"
he continued, coming into town bout this
hour myself, with my head in my holster,
an thinking was six-cbambered revolver
drunk was"
Maurice had good seat, he'd never be
washed off"
"Not he"
"The horse has wheal on it's off fore
quarter" remarked another, more observant
than the rest.
"A blow from whip maybe"
" 1t would be darned hard one"
"Wheres Chicago Bill?" said some one
he'll know"
Thus invoked, strange gaunt figure step
ped out in front Of the crowd. He was an
tall and powerful man, with the
red shirt and high boots of miner. The
shirt was thrown open, showing the sinewy
throat and massive chest. His face was
scanned and SCARED with many conflict,
10th with nature and his brother man; yet
beneath his ruffianly exterior there lay some
thing of the quiet dignity of the gentleman.
This man was veteran gold-hunter; q real
DID Californian 'iorty-niner, who had left
the fields in disgust when private enterprise
began to dwindle before the formation of
huge incorporated companies with their
ponderous machinery. But the red clay with
the little shining points had become to him
is the very breath of his nostTils, and he had
come halfway round the world TO seek it
once again.
Here's Chicago Bill" he said; "what is
t?n
Bill was naturally regarded as an oracle,
n virtue of his prowess and varied expert
ence. Every eye was turned on him as
Braxt0n, the young Irish trooper of constab-
llary, said, What do you make of the horse,
Bin?"
The Yankee was in no hurry to commit
himself He surveyed the animal for some
.ime with his shrewd little gray eye. He
bent and examined the girths; then he felt
he name carefully. He stopped once more
md examined the hoofs and then the quar-
.ers. His eye rested on the blue wheal
already mentioned. This seemed to put him
IN scent, for he gave long low whistle,
and proceeded at once TO examine the hair
ln either side Of the saddle He saw some
hing conclusive apparently, for, with side
ong glance under his shaggy eyebrows at
,he two old men beside him, he turned and
ell back among the crowd.
"Well, what dye think ?" cried dozen
voices.
"a job for you," said Bill, looking up at
he young Irish trooper.
"Why, what is it? What's become of
young Broadhurst?"
"He's done what better men have done
lfore He has sunk shaft for gold and
sanned out coffin"
"Speak out, man! what have you seen?"
,ried husky voice.
"Tve seen the Craze of a bush-ranger's
oullet on the horses quarter, an I've seen
lrOp of the riders blood On the edge of the |
,addle- Here, hold the old man up, boys
ion't let him drop. Give him swig of