West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-06-05
A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

tralia, was twenty years old, and my
pocket contained dollar for every year
had lived. had exactly four pounds
TO begin life on in the colony, and that
was more than some of the English BOYS
who had come out with me could boast
of. We were queer lot who had sailed
from Liverpool-gentlemen, loafers,
clerks, lackeys, whole families, single
men, servants and what not-all bent on
a new life in the wonderful island of the
Indian Ocean. We had come in a sailing
ship and been knocked about for months.
and happy lot we were to be set on
shore in the then small aud struggling
town have named.
Luck was with me. On the second
day after landing hired to a sheep
raiser who had ranch on the Murray
River, near its junction with the Darling,
aud 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. A part of the goods were
to be left with settlers along the route,
and part belonged to Mr.. Davidson, my
present, but the teams were in charge OF
an overseer named Mccall, whom soon
found to be a good-natured, good
hearted fellow. Each of us had native
TO assist in managing the teams, aud, 4,
though neither of them could speak ten
words of English, they wcre valuable
men, and had no difficulty in being under
stood.
II was about Christmas time, and the
weather was very sultry, and we aimed
to make only fifteen miles day. We had
full weeks journey before us, and moth
ing Of much interest happened until
the fourth day. We went into camp a
little earlier than usual on that afternoon,
as one of the was ms needed repairs. Our
vehicles, afer 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 off its wheels. | was
thus left alone for a few minutes, and
they had scarcely disappeared from sight
in the scrub when man burst out of the
thicket on the other side aud came run
ming up 20 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 I should
have run away from him bad been able
TO do anything but stand and stare with
mouth wide open. Mccall had told me
Of escaped convio-s and hard cases who
had taken 20 the bush 10 make living by
robbing, and the man had come upon me
so suddenly that was knocked out foi
the moment.
"For Gods sake, young feller, give me
bite to eat :" he said as he stood before
me. Don't be afraid Of me--I'm q
sheep herder who has been lost in the
bush for three days"
stepped TO the wagon and handed
him piece Of bacon, some hard crack
ers, and handful of tea, and then
found voice TO ask;
"But why not stop with us for the
nightT'
Thanks, but I'm in great hurry to
get back to my herd. know where !
am now, and can get there in three
nOufs. Any mdlebeSt
/ gave him some, and he looked al
around 70 make sure that we were alone,
and then said
Young feller, do me q greater favoi
still. Lend me your pistol and knife un.
til tomorrow, when you will pass my
station And, furthermore, be kind
enough not 10 mention 10 any one that
was here. Do this and you shall never
regret it,"
I handed him knife and pistol, prom
ised what he asked, and he shook me bl
the hand and disappeared in the scrub
Ten minutes after he had gone I figured II
out that he was bushman who had beer
hard run by the police, but it was all th,
same to me. Tie could have taken wha
he wanted for al Of me, as i felt per
fectly helpless, and ! was thankful that
he had come and gone without knocking
me ON the head just as Mccall cam,
up with the lever there was clattcr oI
hoofs, and looked up 90 see fv,
mounted men ride into camp They wcr,
In the uniform Of the patrol, and the ap
pcarancc Of the horses and the mel
showed that they had had long ride O
IT,.
"Well Capt White, what is sitl" asked
Mccall, who seemed 20 know every one o
The FIVE
Been after Ballarat Sam again" re-
piled tbe Captain as be dismountcd.
'sAnd lost him2'
Eyes; curse the luck We struck hin
near Dobney's yesterday morning, and h'
ed us y chase Of ffty miles during thI
lay. We killed his horse about dark las
aiQht and had him surrounded ia th'