Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-02-04

being hurried away in the direction of
the Geelong sands. Arrived there the
quOndam car-driver alighted, deliber-
ately embarrassed the horses, and we
were one by one assisted from the car
and bound, some to the wheels, others
to the pole Of the car, "spread-eagle
fashion The robbers now proceed
ed to rifle our pockets CT everything
valuable, and next to open the mail
bags, conllscating numerous letters
containing notes, and wantonly des-
troying valueless ones (from their
point of view.) Having taken every
thing which they could, without risk
of discovery, turn into money they
prepared to depart, each one taking
horse, and were speedily out of sight.
Our delight at being thus left without.
receiving bodily harm was soon chang
ed to alarm far more serious than any
we had yet experienced, for we be-
came aware Of Il fearful peril hitherto,
in the excitement of the occasion, over
looked by us all. The tide was rising
rapidly and would shortly, without
doubt, engulf us. So tightly were we
bound that struggling was unavailable,
and only rendered us moro miserable,
On and on came the waters, until now
and again large wave would actually
touch our feet. Oh, horror ! who but
ourselves can imagine the torture of
watching those relentless waves which
were to drown us, surely, surely?
Miles away from any "tracll," we were
not likely to be heard by man. The
birds seemed to mock our misery,as they
gaily flew over our heads, chattering
to each other and enjoying the liberty
for which we would have given all we
possessed. Shouting was evidently
useless. Yet we shouted, screamed,
yelled frantcally. think l was some
what the calmest, and tried to console
and soothe the others with the thought
that the water might not rise sulli-
GENTLY high to overwhelm us entirely
but, being considerably taller than
my companions in distress, they re-
ceived this suggestion as sort of
ghastly joke, and laughed bitter
laugh. Water all around US rising
! still rising 1t was but too evident
that our worst fears were soon to be
realized. With one thought of the
dear old home in England, with all
my beloved relatives wondering some
day why | did not return or at least
write; one prayer to my God and l
gave up all hope--but--hush! what
do we hear! human voices singing?
Is it delirium? No, it comes nearer
and nearer. Oh, joy! boat is round
ing the small promontory to our right,
and we distinctly hear the voices of
several young men singing. We shout
once more. They evidently see us,
but do not appear to understand our
position. lIelp we cry again, and
are answered. They quickly arrive
and help to free us from our bonds.
lnstinctively we throw ourselves
down on our knees and thank AL
mighty God for so remarkable a de-
liverance. Then we consult upon the
best course to take, with the result
that | take one of the remaining
horses and the car driver the other, he
going towards Melbourne and l to
Geelong
1t was an uncomfortable ride
enough, assure you. Wet through,
excited, mounted on a raw-boned,
bare backed coach horse, which STUN
bled about, threatening to fall with
me at every few yards. Yet the feel
ing of relief from my recent perilous
position was 50 great that | forgot my
discomfort and urged on my blunder-
ing steed until arrived at Geelong.
had not been idle during my ride.
The fresh air had braced up my
nerves, and l had begun to think what
clue had to the robbers. They were
evidently "made up" and wore blouses,
so that | could not tell whether they
were stout or spare. Moreover they
had on Grape masks. Suddenly l re-
membered that while one of them was
investigating the mail bags on his
knees, with his back towards me, l
had seen that his boots were "sprigged"
with copper "spriggs" or nails in a
peculiar manner, "lIere, thought |,
''is clue" and determined to follow
it up. / accordingly sought the Chief
Inspector of Police and explained the
circumstances to him. He, knowing
me in my official capacity, placed one
of his men at my s'riice, with whom
| proceeded to several bootmakers and
inquired whether they had any know
ledge of such boots. None of them
had. "But," remarked one, "they are
a capital clue; for, from your descrip-
tion l should think they are the only
pair in the colony"
Leaving the police office to follow
out certain instructions. | went to
hotel, obtained a change of clothing,
dined, and settled myself down for the