, 1890-01-15
HELD FOR RANSOM.

A5 ~ y" "
Murray City, on the Murray river, and
we were only two miles from a post
station, where a guard of mounted pc,
lice had their headquarters, when the
driver of the stage or wagon suddenly
brought his horses TO a dead stop. This
was in the days of thirty years ago, be-
fore n part of Australia was half civil
lied by the English, and before the big
island had been more than half surveyed.
There were plenty Of bush rangers haunt
ing every highway, and every stage was
usually accompanied by a guard. In
our case five of US had put together and
hired n private conveyance. II was one
of the usual stages, but making a special
trip for our benefit. OF the five three
were Englishmen going up to the valley
of the Murray to locate land, the fourth
was an American who had been in the
country two years, and / had landed in
Melbourne only the week before. My
compatriot was named Davis, a widower,
and he had his only child along-a
bright little girl 8 years old. He was
going up to sheep ranch in partnership
with a friend already settled, and he
could not bear to leave his child behind
him in the town.
The five of us were well armed, and
every hour since leaving Melbourne we
had been ready to defend ourselves. As
we had met with nothing to alarm us
thus far, and as wc knew we were close
upon a station, no one was prepared for
what happened. The stage had no sooner
stopped than two men came up on a
side, covered us with re~volvers, AID a
grufT voice announced:
"Now, then, the first move and of
goes yer heads! Step mi here one by
one!'
l was h first n out. L. was Just at
rundown, and on a portion of the road
between two ridges. The two men on
that side were rough, unkempt, des.
perate looking fellows-fair samples OF
the other two-and the instant | saw
them l Knew that we were in for trouble.
When we were all out they ordered the
driver to turn into a blind road to the
right, and we followed after the wagon.
As we were ordered to follow the vehicle
he leader Of the gang said:
mo foolishness, nowl The four of us
have got our pistols looking right at yer
After going thirty rod we were as
well hidden from the highway as if we
had gone ten miles, and were brought to
a halt in n little glade. As there were
FIVE to four, you may wonder that we
lid not make a break. The first man
who had moved to pull his revolver
would ave been shot in the back. Da-
vis could not have been counted on any
how, as his anxiety for his child took all
The fight out of him. The driver. IL not
in league with the rangers, was at least
treated as neutral. While he was arm
ed, he took matters so coolly that we
saw he was out of the scrape. The five
of us were placed in n row, and while
three men stood behind us the fourth
disarmed us and went through ouI pock-
cts. We were a poverty stricken crowd.
The $50 they took from me constituted
my worldly wealth, while Davis and the
others had been too sharp to trust their
money to n stage unguarded. The whole
amount did not pan out over $3.50, and
the bush rangers were furious.
why, you bloody bloke!' shouted the
leader, "you alone ought to have at least
e200 with you'll"
do you think I'm carrying my money
about the country for such as your pro
tested the hot headed victim.
I'm a-wishing you hadn't got a blast
ed penny added the second.
The idea of it! You'll all be hung
for this!' growled the third.
Davis and 1 had nothing to say. The
leader, speaking to the two of us, asked
You are not English
mo; Americans
at tl1,,rIN 90, WI, SO. - E--as
We gave him our destinations.
well, we're n bit sorry to take YOU
money, small as it is, and 80 delay your
journey; but we've got to do both. These
three coves is rich, and we amt going
to let EN- off with shillings where we
ought to have pounds"
While we were held under guard one
of the men went over to the driver and
held a consultation with him, and the
result was that he turned his team
about and disappeared in the direction
of the highway. We were then ordered
to proceed in a northerly course through
the scrub, one man leading and the 9TH
ers bringing up the rear. Not a word
had been addressed to little Eva by any
of the men, although all had looked at
her with softened expression. She real
lied what was going on, but went
through it bravely, and when we started
through the scrub her father carried her
on his shoulder. We travelled for six or
seven miles before hating, and then
came upon a camp fire, with a fifth
bush ranger sleeping beside it. He was
rudely awakened, and l then saw that
he had his right arm in a sling, having
been wounded or meeting with an acct.
dent. h camp was a thicket, with a
temporary shelter of brush to sleep un.
der. The five of us were ordered to sit
down under this shelter, and then every
mans feet were tied together at thu
ankles and a guard look a seat befor,
! us. Then the fire was replenished, ant
the bush rangers gave us such a suppe,
as they could afford, which consiste,
: solely of roast mutton and a flour cak,
baked in the ashes. When we had cate,
this and been offered a drink OF waite
all around, the leader sat down before IL
and said:
''Now, gents, business is business tn
world over. We have got to max
{ money. We want it to convert tbes
ere natives from the error of their ways
and it will take a heap to do it. 70
first gent, who MAS SO ready with you
tongue, how much are you WORTHY
ais none n Yer blasted hus;nass -,