Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-07

As the echo of the shot died away among
the hills 1 rushed down, breathless, meet
ing Mexican as he staggered out of the
water, exhausted, ana gasping: is he
dead? Is he dead?"
helped the Sergean. up the slippery
bank and saw that he Was hit. One of
Thuuderbolt's bullets had passed under
his arm, Just grazing the rio and cutting
his jumper and shirt. Lucky for me that
it was so, for had the Sergeant fallen l,
who was unarmed, must have beaten an
ignominious retreat.
As soon as we had seen 10 this we pulled
the dead man out of the water and laid
him on the bank; the b g government bull
let had caught him fair IN the middle Of
the chest and gone clean through him, and
the pistol had been fired 80 close that the
powder hsd set his shirt on fire. Poor
Jim Curtis dead face had 10 look upon it
either of pain or fear, oaly q slight express
sion OF establishment; his beard and hair
were 70 Rdered with the yellow dust OF
the waffle fOwers.
Il was nearly dark as we caught our
tired horses. Mexican said that ne was
closing with his man, though his marc was
nearly done, when the poor old Doctor
stopped and whinnied, as horse will do
sometimes when wOefully ia distress.
Thunderbolt jumped off and ran for the
water hole, aud the Sergeant shot the old
horse as be passed him, 10 cnt off his enc
my's chance Of retreat.
was very sorry for the poor old horse.
He must have done a severe journey that
day. OF We should never have caught cur
man. And we were, botn Of US, anything
but iubilant as we led our horses slowly
back through the bright moonlight, soon
hearing the "coOae" Of aparty which, with
our policeman, was in search Of u. The
latter had wisely pulled up early IN the
chase-neitheT he nor his horse was mt for
such a gallop. We had come iouf miles as
the crow Ae5 over very rough ground,
looking rougher still in the moonlight.
With some trouble we took cart into the
range, and brought the dead man in the
morning to Whites. After the necessary
inquiry we buried poor Jim, rolled up in a
sheet of newly-stripped bark, the bush
mans cOffin, under a big tree on the bank
Of the creek.
And the boy? His history is soon told.
Peter Whites history of Thunderbolt's
visit was to the effect that the bushrangeI
had walked quietly into the bar and in
formed Peter as to who ne was-which was
super fuous, as Peter knew him we'll
showing a revolver by way Of credential.
After having drink Tnunderbolt ordered
White to pack up lot OF slOps and gro
Gerry, including, to the publican's mysuh-
cation, some women's stockings and other
female belongings, and had handed out
one parcel to the boy, who, pistol in hand,
was miuding the horses and keeping
guard outside. Az for the two or three
men about the place, they had far toe
much respect for the revolvers and psrhap:
sympathy for the wielders of them, to do
other than keep carefully out of sight
Then our arrival changed the aspect OF az
fairs. and have tried 10 describe what en-
sued.
Not many days after all these things had
happened there came 10 one night to the
homestead Of New England sheep sta
/ ton, not very far-as dictances are reck-
oned in the bush-trom the scene Of the
bushranger's death, an old shepherd, @
grabbed and ancient relic of convict days,
who was shepherding o flock near the foot
of the main range. This old fellow went
to the store where he, after the manner Of
shepherds, invested in tobacco, boots,
soap, Hollowsy's pills and othsr commOd-
tiles popular among those who follow
sheep, Offering, to the Ostonishment OF the
iackaroo who was acting storekeepsr, to
nav for the same in gold. And when the
elder man was questioned by the younger
as to where he had obtained coins SO raely
seen in station etOres, the elder replied
with the aphorism that chem as axes no
questions gets told no lies"
However, glass of rum exhibited by
the master, elected, in conversation, the
fact that that morning young chap had
ridden up TO the old man, out on his run,
given him some money, and bounced
him. into going TO the head station, some
fourteen miles away, telling him to be
sure and bring out a newspaper and news
about the rangers" the young fellow
promising to look after the sheep in the
meanwhile.
81 sxed him why he didp't 90 hisself, y
said the old man, "but he just ups snd
chucks me tso quid, and tells me TO mind
NV own business aud look alive"
The cid man was given newspaper
and was off before daylight. A note was
sent TO the nearest Inspector of Police.
The Inspector, with the wounded Ser
eesnt and trooper, called at our place on
his way to see into the matter, and l,
nretty sure that we were on the track OF
the bushrangcT's boy, consented to accom-
panv him, aud took with me two mounted
black boys-good crackers.
Arrived at the sheep station where the
boy had been seen, we had but little Diff
Guilty in picking up the track OF shod
morse. which led us deep into the heart Of
the mountains, deap among gullies-which
bore marks Of being filled with snow in
winter-and over stony ground, where the
bows were sometimes at fault.
We camped upon the track that night,
serensded by wild dogs. Next day the
bows puzzled out the iron-shod tracks
slowly. sometimes over very bad ground,
until. in gully deep among hills, we
found the track OF hObbled horses, further
on. the horses themselves. At the end OF
the steep, Dino Suliy "as d "ai4 VI ioeh
under which an old log stoekyard, patched
M newly, and probably originally erected
by cattle stealers; close to it small hut
of slabs and bark, with the usual big
chimney at the end. The door, made OF
green hide, was close; no smoke came from
the chimney; nor was there any siga Of
life or sound of living thing to be seen or
hsard about the silent place save that,
close to the door, saddle lay prcpped
against the slabs, and fresh horse tracks
were plentiful about the yard.
Cautiously and quietly we rode up, as
men who expect to see strange things
they knew not what. l easily pushed
open the door Of the hut, which was fas-
tened slightly with a peg, bush fashion,
and presidently saw, lying on the low
couch, figure covered to the chin with a
white blanket, fair-haired corpse, the