The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
uooD STORIES or THE PRESENT DAY.
An Australian Busb Rangers Debt of
Gratitude.

Inc uny nTTlNcu III hueluluc, Australia, j
was 20 years old. and my pocket contained a
dollar for every year had lived. l had exactly
four pounds to begin lie ON in the colony. and
that was more than some of tho English boys
who had come out with me could boast of. We
pool-gentemcn, loafors, clerks, lackeys, whole
families, single mon, servants and what not
oil bent on n new life in tho wonderful island
of the Indian Ocean. We had come in sailing
ship and been knocked about for months. and a
happy lot we were to be set on shore in tho then
small and struggling town have named
Luck was with me. On the second day after
landing hired to a sheep raiser who had a
ranch on the Murray River. near its junction
with the Darling. and on the third we started
Off up tho country. We had two OK teams
that is, we had two covered wagons each load-
ed with supplies. and each drawn by three
yoke OF oxen part OF the goods wore 10 TO
left with settlers along the route. and part
belonged to Mr.. Davidson, my employer. He
did not hire me. not being present but the
teams were in charge OF an overseer named
Mccall. whom ! soon found to be n good
natured. good hearted fellow. Each OF us had
a native to assist in managing tho teams, and,
though neither OF them could speak ten words
of English, they were valuable men. and had
1t was about Christmas time. and tho wealth
err was very sultry, and we aimed to make only
fifteen miles q day. We had full weeks
Journey before us. and nothing OF much inter-
est happened until the fourth day. We went
into camp a little earlier than usual on that
afternoon, as one OF the wagons needed re-
pairs Our vehicles. alter coming to halt,
stood about twenty-five feet apart While
was building fire to cook supper by one OF
the blacks went of after rabbits, and Mccall
took the other with him to help cut and bring
back lever with which to raise the wagon of
its wheels. | was thus left alone for few
minutes and they had scarcely disappeared
from sight in the scrub when man
burst out of the thicket on the other
side and came running up TO me. His lace
and hands were scratched and bleeding. HIS
clothing iu tatters, his hat gone. and he had
such a wild and terrible look that / should
have run away from him had been able to do
wide open. Mccall had told me of ESCAPED
convicts and hard cases who had takon to tho
hush TO make living by robbing, and tho
man had come upon Inc 30 suddenly that l
was knocked out for the moment.
For God AK yeg it6oh 1e hso4 give me bite
be AFRAID OF me-I'm u sheep herder who has
been lost in the push for three days"
| stepped to the wagon and handed him q
riece OF bacon. some hard crackers. and
handful Of tea and then found voice TO ask:
But why not stop with us for the night"
Thanks. but I'm in q great hurry TO get
back to my herd. know where nm now. and
can get there in three hours. ANY matches?"
gave him some. and he looked all around to
mako sure that we Were alone, and then said:
Young feller. do me greater favor still.
Lend me your pistol and knife until to-mor-
row. when you Will pass my station. And, fur
thermore. be kind enough not 10 mention to
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
q bushman who had been hard run by. the po;
lice. but it was all the same to me. He could
haye taken What ha he wanted Tor at OF ne e.
he had como and gone without Knocking me
on the head. Just rs Mccall came up with tho
lever there was a clatter of hoofs. and looked
up 10 see live mounted men. ride into camp:
They were in the uniform OF tho patrol. and
tho appearance OF the horses and men showed
that they had had long ride OF it
Well. Capt White. what is III" asked Mccall,
who seemed 10 know every one OF the FIVE,
Been after BalarRt Sam again replied the
CAPTAIN as he dsmounted.
Yes curse the luck! We struck him near
chase OF fifty miles during the day. We killed
his horse about dark last night and had him
surrounded in, the. scrub. He got out how
noon to- day We followed 1t TO the creek, two
miles above. and there lost 1t. Haven't seen
II only wish we mad. There's q reward OF
600 on his head, hear"
" 1t has been INCREASED to twice that. Show
me his body and III make rich man OF YOU"
The patrol turned their horses loose and had
supper with us. furnishing part from their
own rations. Then there was general talk and
Ill but ono man turned in for sleep: had
Deen introduced all around. but had taken
being sure. from tho first words spoken by tho
-aptain. that | had met Balarat sam and
aided him to make II fresh start. l thought at
irst OF telling tie whole story, TO tho patrol;
out they were serious. sober-loOkinG chaps, and
had fear hat they would give me an awful
-aking down. even If they did not lug me OFF
md seek to have me punished as aiding and
| remembered. too. that l had
'olemnly promised sam not to betray him, and
case work out as il would
The patrol left US at daylight, but their work
6s p9T re, three dy "
IN up tho county and finally arrived at the
'anch. and for the neNt six months was hard
II work as a sheen herder, and mother saw nor
heard much Of tho outside world. Then one
lay was called n OIL my range, which WAS
about i've miles from Dayids0ns house. Each
lis care on a range by himself. and each lived
lIoro with his dog M tut. Once u week tho
tnd left provisions and heard our, reports.
several Of the natives had visited mo harmless
eIlows who wanted matches or tobacco, but nc
White man excepting tho relief had come near
ne for three moutns botgre GOt the call TO re-
lUrt Mt heaiuuar,Cr-. i went in to find n
couple of visitors thcre-two gentlemen who
lGd lately arrived fr III England. Ono OF them, |
Mr.. Cullen. Was from my own town Of Shruws-
lUry. and the other. Il Mr. Williams, was from |
Manchester. They had como Tut to Australia |
o take Nj II range ana go into sheep as an in |
'estment. neither OF them intending TO re-.
main, but to do he business through an agent. |
They had purchased 1000 sheep Of Mr. David !
on rs Il starter, and had taken u range above |
Is on the Darling River. My flock was to 20.
IS also that of tho haidcr TO the south of me, !
md We had boon called In TO receive instruc-
Ions. Both of us hercrs We're TO enter into |
he employ of the new arrivals. who had al |
eady secured their land and built the house |
mi stables for the overseer This man had |
ONE up from Adelaide wi III them. and was
cotchmnn named Mcfarland. The other, who /
TAs an Irish lad OF 20. WAS O'llara.
When We made ready to starr the two gem
lemen were mounted on horses The over
eer drove the bullock wagon. assisted by |
lack. and O'lIara and myself were on foot
oue OF our neighbour had been troubled with .
II strangers, but We had seen nothing OF them,
nd AS the police patrol in the district had
ltey been increased We felt no fear that tho
anEers would meddle with US on our Journey
he weather was now pretty cold, but rs the .
ountry was bad we had 10 lot tho sheep pick
heir way and 20 slow. In the first three days
70 mHdo only about twenty-scyen miles. but
his was thought to DO good progress under
he circumstances. On tine third night. when
I least ton miles from amy settlers. and more
nan that from any rugula highway We found
atural valley in which the sheep could 10
erdcI ana Own camp mudo I'm