Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-15

x04 circumstances UNDER WnlC0 tho
two wosthiea had 6rst made acquaint-
ance, haying : direct bearing ON the
courss Of events. ars worthy Of rela-
ticn.
Il happened SONS eighteen months
previously that the prospector, known
gsnsrAlly - Myall Billy ('.Myall" being
the term ~ which the uncivilized
blacks are colonially distinguished. and
30 arguing : corresponding amount Of
sAvagery ii the owner Of the prefix
il happened that Myall Billy. return
ing 70 Cooktown after 3 prospecting
tour 70 tho northwest, had come upon
the Chinaman lying helpless and al.
most dead in the middle Of the rough
bushtrack.
He Was simply dying OF thirst, for il
was II tho middle Of the hot season,
and the small creeks and water-courses
were dried mp.
Moved BY the most ordinary spirit Of
compassion, the prospector gave the
suffering wayfarer to drink out OF his
own weIl-flled water-bag. and further
more-aa he WAS l8ading . spare horse
st the time which he did not actually
require-even gave All Leo y mount,
and took him safely into the township.
It was an act which the most heart
less, the most dcpraved, and the most
inhuman would have done; for the
most callous would hardly SOC . fellow
creature perish by tlle waysido when
Il cost little or nothing TO hold out q
helping hand.
hut tho Chinaman had not forgotten.
During the remainder Of that day on
which tho prospector made his appear
ance At the Pike River camp, All Lee
labored under intense excitement
He followed the new arrival about
constantly, offering his services. and
betraying his pleasure in the most de-
monstrative way possible. The sto-
lidity and apathy that outwsrdly char
acterize the race quite disappeared in
his first burst OF pleasure and surprise /;
even Myall Billy himself was some
what surprised at the devotion he had
aroused.
The day after his arrival was spent
by the travel : worn prospector in
idleness, unless doing q few rough re-
pairs to his belongings could be looked
upon in the light Of employment. and
unless the huge consumption of rice
and salt beef could be regarded as
work.
The second day he likewise devoted
to ease and idleness. But on the third
day he joined the Chinamen at their
work by the river bank, and after
watching them silently for some time,
took q pick in his hand and set to
himself.
The worthy All Lee must have told
his iellow.countrymen in the most com.
plimentary of terms the particulars oil
the service rendered by Myall Billy.
for that gentleman found himself
treated with the greatest consideration
by the three.
Though. as may be imagined, food
was not over-plentiful in the camp, the
prospector Jared well--if not as re,
garded quality, at least rs to quantity,
The Celestials themselves we're small
eaters; but for their guest there wa.
no stink
The prospector had made known hi.
intention of stopping only a few days
in order that his horse might rest ant
pick up sufficient strength to carry hin
to the nearest settlement; SO that ht
was looked upon entirely as q guest
who would soon leave them to theil
customary solitude.
Bnt during the week he remained a
the diggings. . change came over thu
relations existing between the three
Celestial& Myall Billy took possession
on his own account, Of one of the unoccu
pied huts left standing by its origina
builder and owner ct the general de
sertion OF the camp. Into this h,
moved his goods and chattels, and 81
temporarily established himself.
His meals he took with his entertain
ers; but at night he retired to the priv
acy of his dwelling place. During tn,
long evenings his constant companion
wac All Lee, who deserted his own as
sociates in order to keep his newly
found benefactor company.
What subject of mutual interest the,
found TO occupy themselves durin,
those hours of intimacy ~subsequen
developments went to show, for, sever
days after his advent at Pike River
the prospector one morning disappeare,
from camp.
He departed bag and baggage; and
alas. for the bonds of friendship an,
nationality the yielding All Lee van
ished likewise. But not empty hande'
didthe two conspirators decamp; 70
with them disappeared the little bag O
gold dust and small nuggets which wa
the result of the labors of the tire
Cinnamon.
IL was rs base a piece OF ingratitud
on the part OF the prospector to thu
rob his entertainers, and as shameless
breach Of fellowship on the part Of Al
Lee, as could we'll be imagined; bu
there it was.
The poor Cinnamon were accustome
in mutual confidence to bury the littl
bag of precious dust under the earthe
floor Of their hut for safety; and thei
rage and dismay may readily be imal
ined when, one morning, they woke II
TO find the earthen floor disturbed
their treasure gone, and with it Myal
Billy, All Lee, horses and baggage, te
gether with . considerable amount {
their limited stock OF rations.
But it is not with the tive impovel
ished miners or their just cause for n
vengful feeling that the story has {
deal, hut with the two unworthy fugi
tiyes laden with the ill-gotten spoil.
The prospector gave his companio
one Of his two horses to ride. and 81
both mounted, they made their Wa
along the scarcely perceptible tra