Telegram-herald., 1891-09-24

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hind his bunk, thus making hole sum
GENTLY large for Bo1acer to creep
through. He then fastened the letter
securely to his collar, the nobls animal
giving now and then suppressed whine
and trembling from head 70 foot with
anxiety. Re had smalt at yerry's waist
coat and quite understood what was ex-
pected Of him could not bear 70 look
az Long Peter at this moment. his feat
urcs were working with emotion, and
could have sworn that there were tears
In his eyes; but he said nothing. Every
thing being now ready he led Bouncer 10
| the hole, held his nuxzle for moment
pressed hard between his hands, while
he gazed into the creatures expressive
eyes, "Now go, good dog" he whis-
pered; and squeezing himself through
the hole Bouncer sped away on noassless
feet.
| We listened intently for . few min
! utes. oh, how we hstenenedl our faces
blanched and our limbs trembling. Had
Bouncer escaped away on his weighty
e,rand without being discovered, Alas,
no. sudden wild jabbering rose on the
night air. rush of many feet, and the
next instant we detected yelp OF pain.
''They have surely speared him" whis-
| pered Mr. Ashby.
But Long Peter turned on him almost
| in anger. mo, no, sir" he said; che is
just scratched. He'll do it yet, ! know
| he willv'
'He must be quick then" replied tho
master. ''for those cursed sayages have
struck light somehow; they mean to
burn US out, look"
Our eyes were now intently watching
the movements Of the black fellows from
the loopholes, and we had not watched
long till We saw flaming brand whiz-
King through the air till it fell upon the
stfingy 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.
Garry up a bucket of water through
the trap door and pour it over the roof,
whispered the master to me, "but take
care of yourself; don't let them see you. "
did as was directed, and thorough
ly drenched the roof, but while thus en-
| gagged / heard shout from below. II
was Mr.. Ashby's voice.
| "Come down, Jem; come quickly,
he cried, and ratified down the ladder
with a sinking heart. Long Peter lay
on the floor of the hut, white and gasp
ing; a spear had entered one of the loop
holes and pinned him through the thigh.
In response to my groan of utter dis
may the good fellow struggled into a
sitting posture.
''Neyer mind me, Jem," he said;
eight it out 10 the last. Take my gun,
there is one charge in it yet; but first
drag me into that corner"
| obeyed in silence, handed him pan
nikin of Geld tea, and then took my
] place By Mr.. Ashby's side. ''Look out,
he whispered. 81 mean to fire at their
ringleader-that man with the blazing
log in his hand-I fear he has already
fred the roof. hear it cracking; but
/ it scarcely matters now, the end is not
| far of. We are doomed"
As he spoke these despairing words
Mr.. Ashby fired, his bullet bringing
| down the man aimed at, who, with q
wild screeca, fell to the ground. There
was pause of CONSERVATION after this,
and a hurried talk among the savages
outside: then, with wild yells, the whole
force Of the besiegers rushed on our little
garrison. A moments surging round
the door, then it gave way with a crash,
MIR. Ashbys gun swinging on the crowd
of savages with terrific force, Telling two
of them like oxen. / can scarcely de-
scribe what followed. There was wild
struggle with our guns and our fists;
then two black fellows forced mo to the
ground; one was shortening his grasp Of
+, his spear to drive it through my body,
when he suddenly fell ON the top Of me
; dead, felled by the butt end of Mr.. Ash
by's gun. But knew little more. Dimly
/ seemed to hear lond hurrah from out
side, followed by the cracking of rifles;
then every sound died away into utter
silence.
"Well, declare, you have had q bit
of a scrimmage, and here's poor Jem
about done forr' 1t was the voice of
Jerry, who was dragging away the dead
body of my assailant from off my chest.
mo, am not Dead" I said, feebly
enough, mot even wounded, though
half choked with blood that is not my
own. Where is the master? and, oh, go
and looh after Long Peter! He is terribly
hurt, know"
''The other chaps are attending to
him." said Jerry, land as for the master
lie says he is oil right; he won't own to
single scratch. He is q game one, he
is. Well have you all carried to tho
Head Station afore breakfast time, see
II we don't. But you shorld have seen
that dog Of Peters. Why, his feet was
all skinned and raw, and he had an ugly
spear wound in the shoulder, SO that the
letter was covered with blood. We
could scarcely make it out, but we
guessed quick enough that there was
something alniss, and came away at
once. We were just in time, Jem. my
boy"
Didn't tell ye as Bouncer would do
it" cried Long Peter. in rather . weak
and quavering voice. "Poor old chap"
he added tenderly, rs the faithful brute
limped across the Int at the sound OF
the shepherds voice and crept close to
his side. "Ycu and me viii never part,
Bouncer, never, as long as we live
And they never did part till seven years
later, when, IN extreme old age. Bouncer
died and was buried in a graz dug for
him by Long Peter himself, "Ah,"
he said. when the ceremony was over,
why do them faithful brutes die 90
soon? III never see his hike again: he
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