The Penn's Grove record., 1888-07-07
SAVED BY A DOG.

Cured not far from the township of
Horsham, Victoria. Where the exact
locality is, L have no intention of
divulging; but ii any of my readers are
acquainted with the part of the world l
refer to, they will remember that there
exist q or two large streams within
the wide radius 1 have named. Beside
n of these rivers there was standing,
about twenty years ago, a hut, which
was known at the homestead as Deep
Water station; and it was here that my
lot placed me as hut keeper. j lived
at the Deep Water station for two
years.
If readers of the following story wish
to know who l am, l Will crafty their
curiosity so far as to state that 1 was
born i'll tile north Of England. My
father was a retired tradesman. He
gave me a fair education, but l eve
fulfilled the expectation formed of me.
This night, while L write, l can show
nothing to prove that l v succeeded
in the world. 1 am a poor clerk. strug-
Cling for a bare existence, and some
times struggling with a wild, strong
impulse to wander and work through
the country, as I often did before, near
the scent of my former experience, /
like the red sunset and the wild plains
as much as ever; l like the glow of the
sunlight among the gnarled, queer
trees; 1 like the ripping rays on the
water-the waving, shadowy grass of
the silent hills-the bright, still moon,
the wilderness away from towns; 1 like
Australian life, but not among the
dusty streets, or e to white, swelter-
ing roads. For,twelve years / followed
these impulses faithfully, and enjoyed
my brush life, with little profit, it is
true, but with much pleasure. All
that I have to show for all my wander.
ings and hardshlps, as | write, is a
long, ugly scar across my breast. and l
am going to tell you how I got it.
l remember l was sitting at the hut
(the Deep Water hut) one summer
afternoon, looking for the coming of
"Long Mat" The sun was passing
away blood.red behind a range OF dim,
blue hills; long shadows were rapidly
spreading; the deep-water hole had lost
the light; the hills behind the river
we're just tipped with a crimson glory,
and stars seemed dropping like silver
specks on the paling sky. Long Mat"
the shepherd, was later than usual.
The darkness had not quite fallen
before 1 recognized the bleatlng of the
flock In the distance, and o after the
white f1eeces OF the sheep slowly ap-
peared from out the sombre shadows of
the trees. l had Just walked inside
the hut to prepare supper, when the
quick, muffied fall Of a horses feet
became audible. 1 knew the canter
well, and came to the door to await
the arrival of MI. S., the owner of
the station. He galloped up to the
hut, with q careful "Good evening.
Bill" and as usual came inside to ask
me- if 1 wanted anything. and to light
his pipe.
II can't stay long with you this time,
Bill" he said pleasantly, but with d
little anxiety; 'the black fellows are
about again. / hope your gun is IN
order. Do you want any powder OF
leadp"
"We hava quite enough" I replied,
''botn for Mat and myself; but there's
no bullets; lll run them tomorrow.
Mats rather late this evening, but the
fiock's not far off; they'll be home In a
quarter of an hour; I saw them pass
the belt before We came"
At this instant the shadow of a man
darkened the door, and Mat entered.
"Good evening"" he SAID, quietly, to
MIR. S. and myself. 1.-THE sleeps
feedin' home all right, sir, but there's
a few missin'. One of my marked
ewes is gone, and l can't see two of the
crawlers,"
you'll pick them up tomorrow,
Mat" replied the strong, pleasant voice
of the squatter. "Bills says you've got
enough powder and lead. The blacks
are about; do you know that?"
Without waiting for an answer Mr..
S. proceeded to undo his horse, and
was about to mount, when Mat said.
81 guess you had better stop tonight,
SIR"
"Whyp"
'sIrj1ns is close up. One of the
sheep / spoke Of was speared.
81 heard there were black fellows
about" said Mr.. s., delaying to
mount, shut the ride is safe enough;
I've got my rifle with me-"
''They're too Close" responded the
shepherd. after filing a panikin of tea,
and contrary to his custom, standing
his gun against the table.
We looked at him iDquiringly. He
kept his eyes wandering over and
around the tiocks, while he explained:
"Wall, you SCI sir, after seein' the
spear wound on the crawler, 1 looked
about me purity sharp, but couldn't
see nothin' till / was leavin' the belt
there, when l sighted M of the var
mints wrigglin' through the 'siass Ike
q snake. l was goin' to give him d
pill, but 1 saw another wriggle In hid
wake, and then another, and" conA
tinued the narrator, with sometime
Ike a glow Of expectation, "they arr
FAR of now. I reckon"
He had scarcely uttered the words
when he lifted both hands and struck