The National tribune., 1882-03-18

iint0V6r5u MS GTlEIlei itao - t'T S'4'ii''J
swore it, and his comrades followed his ex~
ample The bodies were then with briei
Iprs yer consigned TO a deeper grave, rough
cairn was erected over them, and the eieY-
en- men set forth upon their mission OF stern
justice.
Three weeks had passed-three weeks and
two davs The sun was sinking over the
great waste of husband, uneEpiOred and
unknown, which stretches away from the
eastern slope of the Tapu mount2jns Save
some eccentric sportsman or bold prospector,
no cclonist had ever vcntured into that deS-
olate land: hut on this autumn evening two
men were Standing in 4 little glade III the
verv heart Of it. They were engaged Tying
up their horses and apparently making
nrenarat;ons for camping cut for the night
Thopch hacgard. unl<eNt AMI worn, one
still might recognise two OF cur former &C.
ouantances Young Irish trooper, and
the American Chicago Bill
This was the last act of the avenGlng
party. They had tgaversed tie mountain
csrges, they had explored every gully and
revinc. and now they had split into several
small bands, and, having nanei try sting
! pI,ce. thew were securing the country III the
hope of hitting upon some trace OF the nur-
! derers. Foley and Arson had remained
/ amono the hills, Murdoch and Dan Murphy
( were exploring towards Rathurst, Summer
/ vile and the inspector hai assembled along
the Wawirrl, while the Others In three par
! ties were wandering through the eastern
husband.
Both the trooper and the miner seemed
| detected and weary. The one had set out
|, with visions of glory, ard hopes Of short
! cut 20 the coveted stripes which would put
him above his fellows; the other had
oheved a rough wild sense of justice; and
each was alike disappointed. The horses
were picketed and the mea threw Themselves
heavily upon the ground. There was no
nee to light a fire; few hampers and some
~ bacon were their whole sFTsvisi Sffs.
- produced them, ana handed hts
f ~ 70 his comrale. They ate their rough
II without a word Braxton was the first
10 break the silence.
We're playing our last card he said.
"And darned poor one al that replied
his comrade.
WHY, mate" he continued, If we did
knock IN auin these all fired varuin, We fon'J
suppose you and | would go for them? /
guess IA up and shove for Trafalgar first"
P-axton smiled Chicago's reckless c0ur-
l., i,a ,.Di for
apv words of his TO throw q doubt upon t.
Miners still tell how, during the first great
rush in 80. a clustering rutlian relying upon
some similar remark nfthe pioneers, hal tried
to establish reputation by an unproyokeo
assault upon him. and the nRrrators theu
glide imperceptibly into an account of BIZ:
? E~nGeon7o conduct towards the widow-hoU
he had given her his weeks cleanup t
. start her IN n drinking shantv. BraxtoI
thought of this as he smiled at Chicago
! remarks and glanced at the massive limb
and weathcr-beaten face.
e Wed best see where we arc before i
! crows darker" he said and IS NJ he stacke,
! his gun against the trunk OF II biue-gun
D free. and, seizing so,ne OF the cresrers whici
: hung down from it, began rapidly and silent
r ly 70 ascend it.
!. His souls too mig for his body" growle
: the American, IS he watched the dark lith
e figure standing out against the pale-bu
d evening sky.
: What dye sec, Jack >" he shouted; :; fo
|, the trooper had reached the topmost branc
: by this time and was taking Il survey OF TIL
c country.
/ "Bush BUSH nothing but BUSH" said tn
r voice among the leaves. "Waita hit, thoa9i
- there's kind of hill about three miles 0
IS away to the nor'east. | see it above til
Is trees right over there Not much good I
e ps. though" he continued, after paus
e, "lor it seems a barren, stony sort of a place
e Chicago paced about at the bottom OF til
N tree
b "He seems an almighty long time pro-
1t pectin' it," he mutterod, after ten minute
le had elapsed. "Ah, here he is!" and II
e trooper came swinging down and lande
ID painting just i'll front 0i him.
1r why, what's come over him? What
ID the matter, JaCk?"
IN Something was the matter. That W:
= yery evident There was light in Braxton
at blue eyes, and flush on the pale cheek.
re "Bli," he said, putting his hand on h
T. comrades shoulder, Its about time yC
at made tracks for the settlements"
E. What dye mean ?" said Chicago.
10 "Why, mean that the mlrderers a
ne within a league of us, and that ! inter
ne going for them. There, don't be hutled, o
he man." he added "of course / knew "
it were only Joking. But they are there, Bill
" | saw smoke on the top Of that hill, and
ne wasn't good honest smoke mind you; it W
d. dry-wood smoke, and meant to be hid.
he thought it was mist at first; but no, it "
n smoke. I'll swear it. 1t could only
tn them; who else would camp on the SUNNI
at of desolate hill? We've got them, Bill; ,
u have them as sure rs Fate"
ed 'Or they've got US" erowled the America
"But here, lad, here's my glass; run up al
ks have look at them"
sh It's too dark now" said Braxton we
nd camp out tonight No fear of them stirrir
he They're living by there until the whole thi1
ny blows over, depend upon it; so Well ma
ho ST re OF them in the morning"
M The miner looked plaiptiyely up at t