Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-02-11

rage and dismay may readily be imag-
med when, one morning, they woke up
to find the earthen floor disturbed
their treasure gone, and with it MyalI1
Billy, All Lee, horses and baggage. to-
gether with considerable amount of
their limited stock of rations.
But it is not with the two impoyer-
ished miners or their just cause for re-
vengful feeling that the story has to
deal, but with the two unworthy fuei-
tives laden with the ill-gotten spoil.
The prospector gave his companion
one of his two horses to ride, and SO,
both mounted, they made their way
along the scarcely perceptible trail
towards the coast.
Remorse, or even regret, for what
they had done in all probability not
only never entered the mind of either,
hut never came-so to say-within
speaking distance.
In the case of Myall Billy, all moral
sense was entirely wanting, and to rob
Chinaman was in his eyes almost an
act of righteousness; while in the case
of the frail All Lee it was doubtful if
his estimate of his own virtue was at all
diminished by the act he had done at
the instigation of his companion, for
dishonesty, in his. mind, ranked not so
much as failing as an unpleasant
necessity to be practiced when and
where it would prove advantageous.
Along the narrow trails the two COM
panions rode day after day, communino
little with one another, monotonously
pressing forward on their way. The
prospector rode ahead, rifle in hand,
keeping watchful eye for the tracks of
wandering blacks, All Lee following
with the patience and endurance of his
race. The miner had on an early &C.
casion ia possession of the bag of
gold dus., entrusting his companion
with the weightier and more cumber-
some burden of their stock of pro-
visions.
For over a week they continued thus
on their way, without meeting with adj
venture or accident of any kind. Be-
ing but too insuffciently provided with
firearms, they took every precaution to
avoid contact with the wild blacks who
swarmed in those districtu.
At night, instead of camping in the
vicinity of a water-hole or creek, they
contented themselves with filling their
one water-bag, and then moving on
some mile or so before bringing their
days journey to close.
The fire which they had to make to
cook their evening meal was extin-
guished directly that operation was
concluded; their horses they hobbled
out at night without the customary
bells around their necks, so that no
tinkling should apprise any of the
savage denizens of the bush of their
vicinity.
But notwithstanding all precautions,
early one morning, as the two were
making preparations for the days
journey, they were surprised by tribe
of black fellows and attacked.
The evening previous the prospector
and the Chinaman had been on unusu-.
ally friendly terms. The former-in-
stead of rolling himself in his blankets
and turning his back on his companion,
as was his usual custom-had taken out
his pipe and tobacco, and INDUCED in
the unusual exercise of conversation.
All Lee, too, had thrown off some of
the reserve that characterized him,
and perhaps in view of their now near
vicinity to their destination, had given
expression to his hopes and aspirations
for the future
"Gold worth hundred pound" he
said; "me get fifty, you fifty. Me go
Canton, little girley there. Chinaman
girley welly beauty. Me mally little
girley. Welly good, welly beauty"
and in anticipation of future bliss, his
cleaning eyes frightened, and he actu-
ally broke into grin.
But alas for poor All Lee and his
hopes of happiness! In the gray of the
early morning, just as he and his COM
panion had finished saddling the horses
preparatory to moving away from the
camp, shower of spears hurtled
through the air from every direction.
There had been no sound, not even
the rustic of leaf, to give notice OF the
approach of an enemy; the savages had
crept up unsupported, and lay in am
bush around their temporary encamp-
ment Neither the prospector nor the
Chinaman were hurt at the first attack,
but the horse which Myall Billy had
just saddled was hit, and giving wild
snort of terror and alright, it broke
from his hand and galloped furiously
off.
The Chinaman's steed, with better.
fortune, escaped, and it's rider, jumping
on it's back, with loud cry of terror,
without looking behind him, urged it
to the utmost of its power along the
trail From between the trees peered
out the dusky faces of the attackers,
and another flight of spears whistled
by the heads of the prospector and the
flying All Lee. One pierced the un-
mounted man in the arm, and another
in the leg.
Quick as lightning bio ready rifle