Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-04

But it's all past now, and let me tell you,
If, If your young men were to show |
title more pluck, we should soon stamp |
mt all this blackguardism, or bushrang- |
ng, or whatever you please to call 1t, by |
which your country is infested"
The other agreed with him, and the
passed on to the bushrang-
RS and their latest exploits, of which
Mr.. Robertson gave some racy particu-
lars, which provoked the Majors laugh
ter, and caused the time to pass quite
They had left the village and
the few outlying homcstea1s far behind,
and bad entered the dark forest of tall
munotonous cucalypti Not another hui
man being was III sight, not sound was
to be heard in the pauses Of their CON
versation except the rustling of the tree
tops or the cracking Of the dead leaves
and brushwood under their horses feet,
rs they moved along.
"Are we on the right road ?" asked the
Major. II do not see the track"
sob, it il quite right. am Just cut
ting off corner; we shall be on the
track again in another minute"
"You seem to know the country well?"
the Major said, n little doubtfully
"Ob, perfectly l am almost like
native having grown up in these parts.
l know every noon and Granny among
these ranges" Thus treasured, the Ma
ior rode on beside INN, and the younger
man kept up the conversation with much
vivacity.
The solitude was intense-the silence
of nature unbroken but by their voices.
Suddenly, out of that silence, n low
cautious note rose, sounding strangely
like II whistle i'll the distance. The Ma
lor reined in his horse to listen ms the note
died away.
81 sayl" he cried, sharply whats
that? Eli? Any fear of Black Robin
and his gang of rascals IN these parts !?
It's lonely enough for anything.
Mr.. Robertson, who had not appeared
to notice the sound, stopped, too, at his
companions words, and both looked ill.,
tently in the direction whence it had
come. Only the leaves rustled gently i'll
tho faint breeze which scarcely stirred
them.
"Pshaw.' he said, unconcernediy /;
cts nothing. A curlew screaming, per
haps. You are not used to the wild bush
sounds yet"
II could swear it was Il whistle,
thought" And the Major strained his
ewes again, to see whether he could de-
tect anything human that might be NOV
ing among the gaunt white tree-stumps,
which stood like ghosts here and there,
stretching out their scathed and leat1ess
branches, among the waving fern fronds
and the solemn verdure overhead.
Mr.. Robertson, perceiving his uneasi-
ness, drew out pistol from his breast
and fired random shot.
"There y he exclaimed merrily, as he
examined his weapon and replaced it.
"That will frighten away any danger that
may be lurking in the air.
The sharp report echoed through the
Stiffness of the forest solitudes, and
frightened flock of great white cocka-
toos which had been taking an afternoon
nap on one of the tall tree tops at little
distance. They futtered their wide
wings with whirring sound and flew
away hurriedly, uttering shrill, agitated
screams. Clouds were creeping up on
the horizon, and the wind, which had
suddenly risen, was swaying and rocking
the branches Of the old trees. whose din
gy verdure grew duiler and dingier, as
the gray cloud mantle spread itself over
the sun and obscured the radiance of the
day. The scene had become singulnrly
dreary, and the Major felt an eerie sense
of loneliness Not so his companion,
whose spirits seemed to rise with the
wind.
"Come away!' he sried gayly. "There's
n storm brewing. We had better get on.
Let's see whether there's canter left in
tins iaded beast"
SO saying, lie clapped his spurs to the
horses side, and they plunged deeper
INTO tho forest Major Mornington did
not find the speed altogether convenient.
for the ground was rough and uneven,
but was fain to follow his leader Es was
not yet an experienced bush traveller, |
md his pilot, the sun, having retreated
behind the nlouds, he would have felt
great difficulty in knowing what direc-
ton to take had he been alone for the |
track had not yet reappeared, and the tall |
grasses and thick scrubby underground |
made progress rather perpleying.
81 say you might have chosen clearer
ground for your canter," he cried. "Pull |
up bit, can't You, till we get into the
open"
They were now in deep dark dell,
where prickiy shrubs and tall ferns grew |
hickly, and with sudden movement he |
.eined in his horse and sprang to the
ground.
"Stay - he said, as he looked at the
Major; ''your saddle girth is Embossed.
Let me fasten it for YOU"
With these words he was at the head
Of the horse. The Major alighted, too,
md stood beside him in another minute. |
"What do you mean, sir ?" he asked in
some surprise. you are mistaken. The |
yirths are all right"
ooh, are they?" said the younger man
,oolly. So much the better. Then they
will not need settling"
AS he spoke he looked up with an au
lacicus smile and said:
81 am sorry to inconvenience you, Ma
or--for we've had very pleasant ride to-
yether--bnt I'm afraid must trouble
you for this horse CT yoprs-mine is fair
Knocked up!'
"What is this, sir? Have you gone
suddenly mad? Let go the bride of my
moment, sir-do you hear?"
cried the Major, when he recovered ut
erance, after the first pause OF breath
ess establishment. He did not know
what to think OF his companion, over
whose countenance an extraordinary and
most bewildering change had passed in
OF time A strange flush of wild
excitement giowsd on thesunburnt cheek,
md his eyes glittered with light half
hooking and half ferocious. Was this n
mailman with whom he had imprudently
,entured his life in that lonely forest
lell?
"Let, go, tell you," he exclaimed, be-
,ween contendiug feelings of anger and
alarm, Tor I'll teach you !" and he raised
lis riding-whip with menacing gesture.
"Hold !" cried the other in bold de-
termiued voice, and as he spoke he again
lrew ont his revolver and covered the
Major with it, Hold or you are dead
nam"
Those were not the tones, not the GEES
e l..,I