The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-15
A GRATEFUL OUTLAW.

UhAlEq Ou OUlAA W.
The day arrived in Adelaide, Australia,
was 20 years old, and my pocket con-
aimed dollar for every year had lived.
Iuok was with me. On tho second day
|ftsr my landing hired to shesp raiser
tho had ranch on the Murray river, near
|ts junction with the Darling, and on the
third We started off up the country. We
| nd two OF teams-that il. W had two
|overed wagons, each loaded with supplies
Ind each drawn by three yoke Of oxen.
II was about Christmas time. and the
|,sather was very sultry, and We aimed ia
rake only fifteen miles day. We had q
|ull weeks journey before us, and nothing
{ much interest happened until the fourth
| ~. We went into camp little earlier
han usual on that afternoon, q one Of the
|,aaons needed repairs. Our vehicles, after
Ioming to q halt, stood about twenty-five
eet apart. While was building fire to
ook supper by, one of the blacks went Oh
fter rabbits, and Mccall took the other
nth him to help, cut and bring back .
sver with which to raise the wagon OF its
,heels. I was thus left alone for few
,inutes, and they had scarcely disappeared
rom sight in the scrub whom a man burst
|ut Of the thicket on the other side and
anne running up to me. His face and
ands were scratched and bleeding, his
lothing in tatters, his hat gone, and he
ad such q wild and terrible look that I
1ould have run away from him had ! been
it'll mouth wide open. Mccall had told
10 Of escaped convicts and hard cases who
ad taken to the bush to make living by
obbing, and the man had como upon me
suddenly that was Knocked out for the
loment.
"For Gods sake, young Teller, give me .
ito TO eat r. he sad, AZ he stood before me.
Don't be afraid Of me-rm sheep herder
Tho has been lost in the bush for three
avs"
/ stepped to the wagon and handed him q
iece Of bacon, some hard crackers and q
Andful of tea, and then found voice to
"But Why not stop with rs for the nlght7''
Thanks, but I'm in great hurry to get
ad can get there in three hours. Any
/ gave him some, and hs looked all
round to make sure that We were alone,
nd then said:
'Young fel'er, do me greater favor
ill. Lend me your pistol and knife until
-morrow, when you will pass my. station.
lention to any one that I was here. DO
pis and'you shall never regret its
handed him knife and pistol, promised
hat he asked, and he shook me by the
and and disappeared in the scrub. Ten
inutes after he had gone figured it out
hat be was bushman who had been hard
hn by the police, but it was all the same TO
e. He could have taken what he wanted
pr all of me, as I felt perfectly helpless,
I'D was thankful that no had come and
pne without knocking me on the head.
hst AZ Mccall came up with the lever there
As clatter of hoofs, and looked up to
10 five mounted men ride into camp.
hey were in tho uniform of the patrol, and
10 appearance of the horses and men
'Well, Capt. White, what is it7n asked
cCall, who seemed to know every one Of
70 i've.
''Been after Ballarat Sam again. replied
le captain as he dismounted.
And lost him?"
Eyes; curse the luck! We struck him
bar Dobney's yesterday morning, and he
q 1e chase of fifty miles during the day.
10 killed his horse about dark last night,
hd had him surrounded in the scrub. He
Pt out, however, and we did not get his
ack until about noon to-day. Wefollowed
to the creek, two miles above, and there
ct it. Haven't seen him here, of course?''
II only wish we had. There's reward
$500 on his head, hear.''
1T has been increased to twice that.
bow me his body, and I'll make a rich
an of you.''
The patrol turned their horses loose and
i'd supper with us, furnishing part from
cir own rations. Then there was general
X and story telling until about 10 o o'clock
Id then all but one man turned in for
int all
1t had taken very little part or interest in
conversation, being sure from the first
prds spoken by the captain, that had
OF Ballarat Sam and aided him to fresh
art. I thought at first of telling the whole
Dry to the patrol, but they we're serious.
ber-looking chaps, and had fear that
ey would give me an awfnl raking down,
We me punished as aiding and abettinR.
remembered, too, that I had solemnly
omised Sam not to betray him, and 90 1
cided to keep q silent tongue and let the
se work ont as it would.
The patrol left us at daylight, but their
PIX for the next three days was thrown
Eay. They could get no trace Of Sam.
arrived at the ranch, and for tho next
months was hard at work rs sheep
rder. and neither saw nor heard much Of
outside world. Then one day was
led in off my range, which was about
miles from Davidson's house. went
to find q couple of visitors there-two
ntlemen Who had lately arrived from
Rland. Ono of them, Mr.. Cullen, was
pm my own town of Shrewsbury, and the
Per, Mr.. Williams, was from Manches-
They had come to Australia to take
. range and go into sheep raising az an
Festment, neither of them intending to
main. but to do the business through an
pnt. They had purchased 1900 sheep Of
Davidson - a starter, and had taken a
ck was to 90, % also that of the herdcr
the south Of me, and We had been called
to receive instructions. Both Of 10
tders were to enter into the employ of
new arrivals, who had already secured
liz land and built the house and stables
the overseer. This man had come M
IN ADELAIDE with them, and was q Seotch-
N named Mcfarland Thu other .ho