The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-13
escorts been attacked. and f,s oold !. oon,,.

and raved like msdmen. When the tumuIt
VAS soinewhat subsided. l managed to make
out that the wagon bad been attacked in the
DEAD of night, by party of armed raEeers-
a heht hao taken Tlace, not 8 trooper had
Deen Killed, and the gold had been taken
ne attack had evidently been ore arranged
Tor half the troopers had been drufsed. ana
were consequently unable to fight. Three OF
them were reported missing, wappine Bin
among the humber. l went Of to our tent
aud told Sandy. You're right about the
/ villain bet veil be even with bin vet
We went back to the saloon. where us
found nearly all the diggers assembled lis
tening to an account Of the affair from one
I OF the troopers It appeared that shortly
after leaving the camp the aKletree Of the
wagon broke, necessitatinE s;appsge.-
Night came on and found them stiil DELAYED
/ by the broken wagon. Rain fell and some OF
the troopers took little spirits 10 keen ont
The cold. About midnight the trooper WIN
we're acting as sentries were alarmed IN, IN.
rush OF half dozen mounted busbrangsr,
They endeavored to wake up the Others ,,,,
they were oYerpowered, and fastened 70 IN,
trees. The contents Of the wagon were ii
vided among the gang, and they soon rodeoT
followed by Mapping Bin and the tbres
troopers. 10 the morning the bound troaDsr,
managed TO awake the Others by their cries
and then It was sound by their coDditior
that the spirits must have been drpgged
hence their inability TO offer any resistance
we held hasty council and decided To
send to station four miles away for frssh
troopers. By means Of a feet rnssseng.r
search party was organized. and tbes iaf,
the camp two hours later, preceded bv the
oiack trackers to point out the trail. It,rk
l'y managed 10 be enrolled among the mar
y, much TO my satisfaction. l had a seore IN
settle with Wrapping Bill and 1 intended n
give good account OF him il We met We
numbered twenty resolute, weIl-armed f.l-
lows carrying FsyolveIs and knives Will.
the Twelve trooper had rifles 10 addition.
We proceeded first to the place Of spcoBn-
Ter and found the wagon drawn of thu trs-E
and overturned The black tracker ,oon
took up the trail and We went into the br.L
IN Indian file. Our progress was ns-ess.-t
ly slow, but we were quite certain of comic,
up with the rangers at last. We f,Iloua5
the blacks for couple OF hours. then o,s =,
Them set up a warning cry. ana wa r,sbos
forward In the center OF an open glade ua
saw ;he body OF man laiI upon the gro,,s
Scattered around were bits of canvas go
grains of gold glittered In the grass. FxsU.
lning the body we recognized If To he.
son some OF US had seen hanging about ~,
camp for few days previous to the stsrtir-
OF the escort. A small blue bole in his c..
head told what had happened. FvJdentlv,
lispu'e nao arisen among the rangers ana
MS poor fellow had been shot for bis obsti-
hScy- ne again took up the trail and pro-
'eeueu' Inc push now became less denss
Ahu We MADE greater progress. About a
"''e lurther Oh one OF the blacks, who vas
some hundred yards ahead, suddenly drop.
pee nat on the grass, and gave US n warning
sigma. Advancing cautiously TO his si5e
we peered through the bushes. Down IN
nOiio" were six bushIaEgers, seated around
small IRE. Their horses were teth.rs1
near them, and various packages were scat.
Tered about. Our plans were soon Iaid. We
made detour and completely surrounded
'oem- crept quietly through the upeer-
WOOD intending to reach q tree, which prsv
aooot twenty yards from the 6re Of ~,
oushrsngers. Suddenly hand vas Isid o.
my shoulder. l hastily turned and sau
tall ranger close by my side He rrsspsd
me by the collar, and presented = revoIver
TO my forehead.
One sound and III blow your br,iu,
out he hissed.
Resistance was useless, SO / subritied
He disarmed me, flung me to The c-o,,,,5
and fastened my hands behind me 4i.h ,
cord he pulled from his pocket. He ,bs-
weht few yards away to warn the rapgars
L suppose. L heard q ringing cheer. sbots
oaths. and the usual noise OF hand to-b,,5
encounter. Giving q short and sndds-
wrench got loose and rushed forward n
see the result OF the fight Just as la.
Vaneed l heard two shots fred almost sirnur-
taneously, and bullet Just shaved NV head
l clap2ed my hand on my left ear. Heaven
the lobe was shot away. Another inch .Ds
l should have been killed.
Rather q narrow shave, that said On.
OF the troopers, coming forward. 7 s,.,
saw the fellow drawing = bead on Won vban
1 dropped him.
i went forward and found the yictorv
bad been ours. Three OF the rangers bad
been shot down, one OF them Mapping BIZ.
Two were wounded, and lay on the eround
whilst one had escaped. Judge Lynch soo1
settled the two prisoners.
We recovered all our gold and u,s5e ,r..
paratiOns for our return. We gave tbs d.,s
q Tasty burial, easing them, of course. OF All
YaIu>oies, etc lfound 3 pOcketbOok on the
body OF my wOuld-be slayer, and from IL
Cleaned full account Of the gsng. From
Information therein contained Sandy and I
some weeks later made little expedition OF
our own 70 place in the bush. where W.
found qaite collection OF nuggets and
dust-ths result OF many months OF a bush
rangers life. As Il was impossible 70 re-
store the treasure to its lawful owners We
were Obliged to keep it. We returned to
the camp, and, in consideration Of a-r suc-
cessful efforts, we received share Of the
gold. Some months later left The diqgiues
and returned home. married Mary, and set
tied down here. I ought to add that gavs
the trooper who so brayely saved nv life
an old silver ring to wear for my sake.
have never seen him since but II ever do.
he shall be welcomed as a king. such gen-
tlemen, is the story OF the Lucky Sho,
The hearty thanks Of the eompsuv ver.
devotsd to Mr.. White for his story. ana the
company drank the troopers health.
You never saw him sfter?' Issksd NJ
White.
Never, sir
Gould you recognize him II You ,,er. Z,
see him?' asked
Cant say he may have altered eopsidsr-
ably but should recognize the ring inpe-
distely.'
Then is that 1t p said /, putting out nv
right hand on the little fnoar NJ ,vbf.h =