Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-05-07

breaking the silence for the first time; and
the docile animal once more sank to the
ground.
The next moment loud report rang
out into thousand echoes. Peter had
fred the first shot, a shrill death-scream
following it, while we could dimly see
the dark figure of man who leaped from
his ambush and fell like a clod to the
ground.
'Now, MASTER" cried Long Peter, while
rapidly reloading his gun, "fre away but
aim to the right, sir, aim to the right. l
can see the cursed creatures gathering
there in numbers"
Mr.. Ashby obeyed the directions given
him by his servant, for in truth Long
Peter had fuller view than any ofus of
what was going on outside.
"There, you are all right" he added ex-
ultantly, as both Mr.. Ashby's gun and
mine were fired at the same moment.
l'"You have each fixed your man and they
are drawing off for little. But mark my
words, sir" he added, "though they are
MORALLY afraid of our guns, they'll find
out soon enough that our ammunition is
running short, then they will fire the hut,
and we are done for! Sir, mean to get
Bouncer to help u.s."
"The dog?" asked Mr.. Ashby, inquiring-
| ly. II don't understand. What can he
doS They will certainly kill him if you
let him out"
$50 they will, if they can catch him."
replied the shepherd, composedly; "but we
must take our chance of that, sir. If you
will write line to the head station, tell
ing them what fix we are in, reckon
that my dog will carry the letter there in
less time than a thoroughbred horse
could do it. l have taught him, sir, to
fetch and carry, little thinking that at
sometime our lives might depend upon him
doing it. Please write the letter, sir"
"But will he go to the head station with
it?", replied the master who was busily
writing; show can you get him to under
stand z"
"Leave that to me, sir" replied Long
Peter; "the dog is as wise as any Christian,
and deal wiser than many. Besides. l
have waistcoat here belonging to Jerry; if
l show him that, it is all right He loves
I Jerry ard knows that he is at the head
statIGp.. The only difficulty is, will the
black fellows wait long enough before
they fire the hut, SO as to allow of help
coming? 1t is doubtful, but we can only
try. We are in Gods hands, sir"
"True," replied Mr.. Ashby, as he hand
ed the letter to his faithful servant. The
master said no more but I could see his
heart was fulls All, his dear wife, his
blue-eyed little ones! Would he ever see
them more?
There was certainly no time to lose. l
could see the dark figures of the natives
lodging round the hut evidently thinking
that since we had ceased firing our ammu-
not so, we had each of us one bullet
left, but only one, which We were keep
ing for emergencies, or tor the final scrim-
mage. Meanwhile Long Peter had pulled
away half-rotten slab from behind his
bunk, thus making a hole sufficiently
y large for Bonncer to creep through he
then fastened the letter securely to his
collar, the noble animal giving now and
then suppressed whine and trembling
from head to foot with anxiety. He had
smelt,at Jerry's waistcoat, and quite I'M
derstood what was expected of him.
could not bear to look at Long Peter at
this moment, his features were working
| 1u;f 7 h OF
there were teals in his eyes, bnt he said
nothing. Everything being now ready he
led Bouncer to the hole, held his muzzle
for a moment pressed hard between his
hands, while he gazed into the creatures
expressive eyes. "Now go, good dog" he
whispered; and squeezing himself through
the hole Bouncer sped away on noiseless
feet
We listened intently for few minutes;
oh, how we listened! our faces blanched
and our, Limbs trembling. Had Bouncer
escaped on his weighty errand without
being discovered? A sudden wild jab-
bering rose on the night air, a rush of
many feet, and the next instant we detect
ed ayelp of pain. -..
"They have surely speared him!' whis-
pered Mr.. Ashby.
But Long Peter turned on him almost in
anger. HNo, no, sir" he said; she is just
scratched He'll do it yet, I know he
will!7
"He must be quick then," replied the
master, ''for those cursed savages have
struck light somehow; they mean to burn
US out-lookln -
Our eyes were now intently watching
from the loopholes the movements of the
black fellows, and we had not watched
long till we saw flaming brand wfizzing
through the air, and falling upon the
stringy bark roof above our heads. An
other and another Immediately followed,
still it did not seem to us that any of them
had taken effect.
"Carry up bucket of water through the
trap.door and pour it over the roof" whis
pered the master to me; shut take care of
yourself, don't let them see you"
! did as I was directed and thoroughly