The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-29

Set as easily on me as You!
Boston True Flag.
A GRATEFUL OUTLAW.
The day arrived in Adelaide, Australia,
I was 20 years old, and my pocket con
tanned dollar for every year l had lived.
Luck was with me- On the second DAY
after my landing hired TO a sheep raiser
who had ranch on the Murray river, near
its junction with the Darling, and on the
third we started off up the country. We
had two OK teams-that is, we had two
covered wagons. each loaded with supplies
and each drawn by three yoke of oxen.
II was about Christmas time, and the
weather was very sultry, and we aimed 10
make only fifteen miles a day. We had "a
full weeks journey before us, and nothing
of much interest happened until the fourth
dav. We went into camp a little earlier
than usual on that afternoon, as oneof the
wagons needed repairs. Our vehicles, after
coming 70 halt, stood about twenty-five
feet apart. While WAS building fire 10
cook supper by one OF the blacks went of
after rabbits, and Mccall took the other
with him 10 help cut and bring back q
lever with which to raise the wagon of Ifs
wheels. was thus left alone for feS
minutes. and they had scarcely disappeared
from sight In the scrub when "a man burst
out Of the thicket on the other side and
came running up TO me. His face and
hands were scratched and bleeding, his
clothing in tatters, his hat gone, and he
had such wild and terrible look that |
should have run away from him had been
able to DO anything but stand and stare
with mouth wide open. Mccall had told
me Of escaped convicts and hard cases who
had taken 10 the bush 10 make living by
robbing. and the man had come upon ne
so suddenly that was knocked out for tie
moment
For Gods sake, young Teller, give me a
bite TO eat" he said, rs he stood before me.
Don't be afraid Of me-Pm a sheep herder
who has been lost in the bush for three
days"
| stepped to the wagon and handed him
a piece of bacon, some hard crackers and Il
handful Of tea, and then found voice TO ask;
"But why not stop with us for the night
Thanks, but I'm in a great hurry to get
back 10 my herd. know where ! am now,
and can get there in three hours. Any
matchesf'
l gave him some, aud he looked all
around to make sure that we were alone,
and then said
young Teller, do me "A greater favor
still. Lend me your pistol and knife until
TO morrow, when you will pass my station.
And, furthermore be kind enough not 20
mention 10 any one that | was here. Do
this and you shall never regret IT,"
handed him knife and pistol, promised
what he asked, and he shook me by the
hand and disappeared in the scrub. Ten
minutes after he had gone ! figured it out
that he was bushman who had been hard
run by the police, but It was all the same
TO me lie could have taken what he
wanted for all of me, as l felt perfectly
helpless. and was thankful that he had
come and gone without knocking me on
the head. just as Mccall came up with
the lever there was "A clatter Of hoofs, ana
looked mp 10 see five mounted men ride
into camp. They were in the uniform Of
the patrol, and the appearance Of the
"a long ride Of it..
well, Capt White, what is it;' asked
Mccall, who seemed TO know every one of
the five.
Been after Ballarat sam again, - repliei
the captain as he dismOunted.
"And lost him"
Eyes; curse the luck. We struck him
near Dobney's yesterday morning, and he
led Us a chase Of fifty miles during the day
We killed his horse about dark last night
and had him surrounded IN the scrub. lie
got out, however, and we did not get bis
track until about noon today. We followed
It TO the creek. two miles above, and thero
loet it, Haven't seen him here, OF courser'
Il only wish we had. There's a reward
OF ESQ on his head, hear
1T has been increased TO twice that
Show me his body and I'll make "A rich
man Of You"
The patrol turned their horses loose and
had supper with US, furnishing part from
their own ratiOns Then there was gen
eral talk and story telling until about ID
o'clock, and then all but one man turned
in for sleep. / had been introduced all
around. but had taken very little part or
interest in the conversation, being sure,
from the first words spoken by the captain,
that had met Ballarat Sam and aided him
10 make a fresh start / thought at frs
OF telling the whole story 10 tine
patrol. but they were serious, sober look
ing chaps. and had a fear that they would
give me an awful raking down, even il
they did not lug, me Off, and seek 10 have
me punished as aiding and abetting. /
remembered, too, that | had solemnly
promised Sam not 10 betray him, and 50
decided TO keep still tongue and let the
case work out as il would.
The patrol left us at daylight, but their
work for the next three days was thrown
away. They could get no trace of Sam.
We continued on up the country, and final
ly arrived at the ranch, and for the next
six months | was hard at work As a sheep
herder, and neither saw nor heard much OF
the outside world. Then one day was
called in of my range, which was about
five miles from Davidson's house. went
in to find n couple Of visitors there-two
gentlemen who had lately arrived from
England One Of them, Mr.. Cullen, was
from uA own town of Shrewsbury, and
the other, Mr. Williams, was from Man
chester They had come TO Australia 10 take
up range and 90 into sheep raising as al
inventment, neither OF them intending to
remain, but To do the business through AZ
agent. They had purchased 1000 slScp OF
Mr.. Davidson as a starter. and had taken
range above Us on the Darling river. Ny
flock WAS TO 90, as also that Of the hcrdc.
to the south of me, and we had been called
in to receive instructions. Both of CG
herders were 10 enter into tho employ a
the new arrivals, who had already secured
their land and built the house and stables
for the overseer. This man had come up
from Adelaide with them, and was q
scotchman named Mcfarland. The other,
who was an Irish lad of -, was O'Ilara.
When we made ready 10 start the two
gentlemen We're mounted on horses. The
oyerseer drove the bulioc., wagon, assisted
by black, and O'Hara aud myself were
on foot On the third night, when az least
ten miles from any settlers, aul more than
that from any regular highway, we found
a natural valley ia which the sheep could
be herded, aud our own camp was made in
n grove of irouNpDI upar a water boie