The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-02-28


me from his iron grasp, be, still keeping
the revolver to my head, drew another
with bis disengaged hand and "coYered"
my companions generally with It, with
tho remark that his friend would now
proceed to "busiucss," pt the same time
jocosely intimnting that probably my
political opinions had Undergone sud
den change, and that might want II lit
/ tie "protection, which pleasantly, being
80 much TO tie point, notwithstanding
the serious aspect Of affairs, caused
general laugh at my expense. ''8usi-
ness was quickly proceeded with by
busLrang2r No, 2, binding the car driver
and guard, whom he then assisted to
mount the car, after which be performed
similar kind Offices for the other two
/ passengers, my turn coming last, for the
reason think, that the ROT bers deteclad
my intention to avail myself Of the
slightest relaSotion Of watchiulness on
their part 10 make a sndden and deter.
mined resistance, an intention I certain
lY had, bnt which was eEs9.ually frus.
tgated by the close attention paid me ly
him Of the two revolyers. \
B,ing all aboard, tho first bushranger
took the reins, the other keeping guaid
over us with the dreaded weapons, aud
we iouRd ourselves being hurried away
in the direction Of the Geelong sands.
Arrived thers the quondam car. driver
nliRhted, deliberately unharnessed the
borscs, aud We were one by one assisted
ftom the car and bound, some to the
wheels, others TO the pole Of the car,
"sprSad.eaglo fashion," TIE robbers
n1w proceeded to riGa our pockets Of
everything valuable, aud next to open
the mail. 5agg, condscating numerous
letters containing notes, and wan.only
destroying va,relsas cncs (iro,r !heir
point Of yiaw) H:ving taken every
thing which they could, wi!hou. risk Of
discovery, tu.u iqto money, they pre-
pared TO depart each one tatiug hocse,
and were speedily oct Of Gight Oar de-
light at Uelng thus left without receiving
bodily harm was soon changed to alarm
lar more serious than any we had yet ex.
pgrieucad, for We became aware of fear
iul peril hitherto, in the excitement Of
the occasion, overlooked by us all, The
lie was rising rapidly, and would short
Iy. ailhout doubt, eDgulf US. So tightly
were We bound that struggling was un-
available, ana only rendered us more
miserable. On aul GU came the waters,
until now and again large wave would
actually touch our foot Or, borrorl
who but ourselves can imagine the tor
tune ct watching those relentless waves
witch were to drown us, surely, surely?
Miles away from any 'track," we were
not likely 10 be heard b. man. The
birds seemed 10 meek our misery, as
they paily 1sw over our heads, cha;tering
to each ether and cIj'ying the liberty
for wLicA We would have given Ill we
| possessed. Shouting was tyidruly use
less. Yet We shouted, screened, Yelled
fgan.iclly. think wac somewhat the
| calmesl, and t.icd to console and soottc
( The others with the thought that the
water Mogr not rise sufficiently high to
oyerwhelm us entirely but, being con-
/ sijorsLly taller than my companions in
distress, they received this suggestion as
a sort Of ghaatly joke, aud laughed bit.
ter iarGh. Water all around us rising,
siil risiugl I. was but too evident tLat
our worst fears we're soon to DO realized
With one thought Of tho dear cid homo
IN England, with ail my leloved relatives
wondering some day Why did not re-
turn or at least wri!ei ono prayer TO my
God and ! gave uD all hope -but-hushl
what do we hear! human voices, singing?
IS it deliriumi No, it comes nearer and
near?g Oh, JOY! boat is rounding the
small promo-torY to cur hight, aud We
distinctly hear .hs voices Of several
young men aingiua We shout once
more. They evidently see ps. but do
not appear to understand our position.
HslI! we cry asria, aud are answered
They quickly arrive aud help 10 free Us
from oar bonds.
Ipsduc,ivsly we throw ourselves down
on our knees aud thank Almighty G d
Tor so remarkable n del'verenge. III =
"o consult upon The best course TO take,
with the result that take one of tie
rlmaln,sg horses and the car driver the
ether, he going towards Melbourne and
to Gssloug.
II was Gu uueoptogtable ride enough,
l assure You. Wet through, excited,
mounted on rtw-boned, bale.backed
oo.ch horse, which stumbled about,
threatening to Ga!l with me at every few
yard, Yet tho feeling OF relief from
nay recent gegilous position was SO great
that forgot my discomfort and urged
on my b,uudeuug steed until arrived
at Geuloug.
! had not been idle during my ride.
The fresh air had braced up my nerves,
and had begun to think what clue /
had TO the robbers. They were evident
ly made up and wore olouses, so that
! could not tell whether they we're stout
or spare, Moreover, they had on Grape
masks Suddenly l remembered that
/ while one Of them was investigating the
mail bagg on lis knees, with his back
towards me, / lad seen that his boots
we're "sprlgged' with copper "spriggs"
or nails in u peculiar manner Here"
/ thought I. "is a clue, and determined
to follow it up. l accordingly sought
the Chief Inspector Of Police and ex.
ploiued the circumstances 70 bim. lie,
knowing me in my official capacity,
| placed one Of his men at my service, With
! whom I proceeded to revsral bootlrak-