Telegram-herald., 1891-09-24

Scarcely were the words out Of his
mouth when spear wnlzzed through
the open doorway and qHlvered IN the
wooden slabs behiai- Had nay two
companions been IS inexperienced as
was all woali Row have bsea confusion
and disnaay, ID. both the master and
Long Peter were old eolonists, and had
lad more than one brush with the ma
tiyes. They were both a. cool as pos-
slble.
bar the door, Jem," said the shep-
herd, -sand hand me tho powder flask
and bullets. Here, Bouneer, keep 70
heel. good dog
With a feeling more akin to agony
than had ever known before, handed
the powder flask 10 nay fellow servant,
at the sauce time telling him that l lad
forgottea all about tho bullets, and that
only halt dozen remained on hand
He Just gave ma one glance. partly in
dignation, partly pity. Then we are
all up tree" be said. However, let
Us do our best: two bullets to each OF
Us, Jem, and wen stand by each other"
The good old fellow, | saw by his
face that he felt for me in the agony Of
remorss was enduring, and did not
mean 20 make it worse for me by his re-
proaches. Yet Long Peter had wife
at home among the heather mountains,
and daughter, curl of whose golden
hair l had often seen in his pocketboolr
All, Long Peter could not afford 10 die
yet.
Meanwhile Mr.. Ashby was coolly re-
conncitering through the loopholes: he
had let down the window, and was pre-
pairing for action as calmly as the shep-
herd. We had handed him his two bull
lets, but he pushed them back; he had a
few of his own. take them, take them"
he whispered; lyon will need them all. /"
And truly we did. BY this time the
moon had risen. its light gradually
growing on the landscape till we could
see the outlines Of the trees. and could
see the long grass waving white in the
ghost'y shadows, but all was silent
nothing bat the hoarse cry of some night
bird broke ON the stiffness around. Oh,
how long was it to last, this dreadful
silence and inaction? For myself must
confess that every pulse in my body was
beating Hike sledge hammer, every
nerve quivering till could scrrcely hold
my rifle. But the master and Peter,
they lnelt rs quietly as though no dan
ger was to be apprehended, their barrels
pointed through the loopholes, 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 a 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 ST.
lence. But suddenly there was q 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 unrevealed 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
fred the first shot, q shriIl death scream
following it. while we could dimly see
the dark figure of a man who leaped
from his ambush and fell like q clod 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 were fired at the same moment.
"You have each fixed your man, and the
others arc 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
viii fire tho hut and we are done for.
Sir. mean to get Bouncer to help u.s."
1.-The dogY asked Mr.. Ashby, inquir-
ingly. IL don't understand. What can
he do? They will certainly kill him il
you let him out!"
so they will, if they can catch him."
replied the shepherd composedly; "but
we must take orr chance of that, sir.
II you viii write line to the Head Sta
ton, telling them what a fix we are in,
reckon that my dog will carry the let
ter there in less time than thorough
bred horse could do it. have taught
him, sir, 70 fetch and carry, little think
ing that at soms time our lives might
depend upon him doing it. Please write
the letter. sir"
"But will he go to the Head Station
with III" replied the master, who was
busily writing. "How can you get him
to understands
Leave that to me, SIR" replied Long
Peter: ''the dog is as wise as any Chris
tian, and deal wiser than many; be-
sides, I lave n waistcoat here belonging
10 jerry; i'll show him that ii is all right;
he loves Jerry, and knows that he is at
the Head Station. The only difficulty
il. viii the black fellows wait long
enough before they fire the hut. 50 rs to
allow Of help coEning9 II is doubtful;
but we can only try. We are in Gods
hands. sir.
True replied M. Ashby, a. hc
handed the letter TO his faithful servant.
The master said no more. bat could
.ee that his heart was full. All, his dear