Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-06-20

one OF them. Dir, IL naQ Deen Speafed
Mr.. Ashby looked full at the man, con-
sternation clearly written in his face
Are they so near us as that, Peter ?" he
said. 81 must get home tonight. only
came to warn you and Jem.
Il don't think that you can possibly go,
sir, responded the shepherd, coolly filling
a pannikin of tea. "They are too close to
us!"
We looked at the man inquiringly; his
face was pale, but resolute looking, and
his voice sank to a whisper as he added ::
AFTER seeing the spear wound in the
sheep l looked about me pretty sharp,
you may be sure, but saw nothing till l
was just clear of the timber; then 1
sighted one of the blacks wriggling
through the grass like a snake. l would
have fired at him, but l saw another,
then another so I thought it best to re-
turn and warn Jem. They did not guess
that had seen them or would have had
a spear through my back. AS it is l ex.
pect they will attack us tonight.
Scarcely were the words out of his
mouth when spear whizzed through the
open doorway and quivered in the wooden
slabs behind. Had my two companions
been as inexperienced as l was all would
now have been confusion and dismay,
but both the master and Long Peter were
old colonists, and h ID had more than one
brush with the natives. They were both
as cool as possible.
bar the door, Jem," said the shep-
herd, "and hand me the powder flask and
bullets. Here, Bouncer, keep to heel,
good dog"
With feeling more akin to agony
than had ever known before l handed
the powder flask to my fellow servant, at
the same time telling him that I had for
gotten all about the bullets and that only
half dozen remained on hand.
He just gave me one glance, partly in
dignation, partly pity. "Then we are all
up tree, he said. However, let us do
our best; two bullets to each of us, Jem,
and we'll stand by each other.
The good old fellow! saw by his face
that he felt for me in the agony of re-
morse | was endurl g, and did not mean
to make it worse for me by his reproaches
Yet Long Peter h ID wife at home
among the heath T. mountains, and
daughter, curl of whose golden hair
had often seen in his pocketbook. All,
Long Peter could not afford to die yet.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Ashby was coolly re-
connoitering throu-sh the loopholes; he
had let down the window, and was pre-
pairing for action as calmly as the
shepherd. We had handed him his two
bullets, but he p he'd them back: he
had few of his ov n. Take them. take
them" he whispo red; you will need
them all" And truly we did. By this
time the moon had risen, its light gradu-
ally growing on the landscape till we
could see the ou',nes of the trees, and
could see the long rass waving white in
the ghostly shadows; but all was silent
nothing but the hoarse cry of some
night bird broke on the stiffness around.
Oh, how long was it to last this dread
full silence and ina 'tion? For myself |
must confess that every pulse in my
body was beating like sledge hammer,
every nerve quiv, ring till l could
scarcely hold my rifle. But the master
and Peter; they knelt as quietly as
though no danger was to be apprehended,
their barrels pointed through the loop
holes, while they closely watched for any
movement outside
But there was none. The sheep were
camping quietly round the hurdles, the
night wind swept with mournful sound
through the dark trees, causing the
spectral tracery of the branches to dance
in the moonlight on the grass but that
was all-still the terrible silence. But
suddenly there was change; three or
four of the sheep rose, looked all round,
stamped with their feet, and huddled
close together. Something had alarmed
them, some sight or sound as yet unre-
vealed to our blunter faculties. Bouncer
rose to his feet, too, whining uneasily.
Down, dog, down." whispered Peter,
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
fired the first shot, shrill death scream
followed it, while we could dimly see
the dark figure of man who leaped
from his ambush and fell like a cfod to
the ground.
Now, MASTER" cried Long Peter,
while rapidly reloading his gun, fire
away, but aim to the right, sir, aim to
the right 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 of us of
what was going on outside.
There, you are all right" he added
exultantly, as both Mr.. Ashby's gun and
mine We're fired at the same moment.
"You have each fixed your man and the
mark my words. sir, he added, though
they are mortally afraid of our guns,
they'll find out soon enough that our am
munition is running short, then they will
fire the hut, and we are done for! Sir,
mean to get Bouncer to help us.
"The dog?" asked Mr.. Ashby inquir-
ingly. Il don't understand. What can
he do? They will certainly kill him if
you let him out "
so they will, if they can catch him,
replied the shepherd composedly; but
we must take our chances on that. sir. If
You will write line to the head station.
telling them what fix we are in. |
reckon that my dog will carry the letter
there in less time than thoroughbred
horse could do it. | have taught him,
sir, to fetch and carry, little thinking
that at some time our lives might de-