The morning call., 1891-06-19
SAVED.


not far from the township OF HOrsham. VIC
toria. Where the exact locality is, have
no intention of divulgng; but If any Of my
readers are acquainted with the part of the
world I refer to, they will remember that
there exist one or two large streams within
the wide radius [ have named. Beside one
of these rivers there was standing, about
twenty years ago. a hut, which was known
at the Homestead as Deep Water Station;
and it was here that my lot placed me as
hut-keeper. l lived at the Deep Water
Station for two years.
If readers of the following story wish to
know who l am, l will crafty their Curl
OSiUy so far as to state that was born in the
north of England. My father was a retired
tradesman lie gave me fair education,
but l never fulfilled the expectation formed
of me- This night while l write, l can
show nothing to prove that l ever succeeded
in the world. l am a poor clerk, struggling
for a bare existence, and sometimes sITug-
CLING with wild, strong Impulse to wander
and work through the country, as | often
did before near the scenes Of my former ex-
perience. / ike the red sunset and the Wild
plains as much as ever; l Ike the glow OF
the sunlight among the gDaTled, queer trees;
like The ripping rays on the waterway
ing shadOwy grass Of the silent hlilS-the
bright stilI moon, the wilderness away from
towns; like Australian life, but not among
the dusty streets, or near to white, swelter-
ing roads For twelve years l followed
these impulses faithfully, ana enjoyed my
bush-life; with little profit, it is true, but
with much pleasure. All that ! have to
show for all my WanderingS and hardShipS,
as l write, is a long, ugly scar across my
breast, ana l am going 10 tell you now L
got it.
remember 1 was sitting al the hut (the
Deep Water hut one summer afternoon,
looking for the coming OF Long Mat. The
sun was passing away blO0d-red behind
range of dim, blue hills long shadows were
rapidly spreading the deepwater hole had
lost tie light; the hills behind the river were
last tipped with a crimson glory, and stars
SEEMED dropping like silver SpeckS on the
palng Shy. Long Ma" the shepherd, was
later than usual
The darkness had not quite fallen before
IT-c0gnzed the Dieating Of the tlack in tile
distance. and soon after the white flteceS
of the sheep slowly appeared from cut the
sOnber shadows Of the trees. l had Just
walked inside the hut to prepare supper,
when the quick, muffied fail Of horses
feet became audible. l knew the canteT
we'll ard came to the door to await the
arrival of Mr.. s., the owner OF the sta
ton. He gal0ped up TO the nut, with
cheerful "GOud-eyening Bill and as usual
csme inside 10 ask NE II Wanted anything.
and=Io light his pipe.
Il can't stay long with you this time,
Bill, he said pleasantly, but with a little
anxiety; 'Jhe black fellows are about again
hope your gun Is in order. Do you want
any powder or leadY'
eve have quite enough" replied, "both
for Mat and myself, but there's no bullets
I'll run them tomorrow. Mats rather late
this evening, but the dOck's not far of
they'll De home IN a quarter of an hour; l
saw them pass the belt before you came
4 This instant the SbaJDp of a man d9
ened the door aud Mat entered.
'GOOQ-eyenlnE, he said quietly, to Mr..
s. and myself. The shreps feedin'
home all right SIR, but there's few mjssin.'
One OF my marked ewes Is gone, and l can't
see two 81 the cIaNlers.'
You'll pick them up tomorrow, Mat, ="
replied the strong pleasant 70 ice Of the
squattar. Bill says you We got enough
powder and lead. The blacks are about, do
you know thaj?
Without waiting for an answer, Mr.. s.
proc, eded To undo his horse and was about
to mount when Mat said: u guess you
had better stop tonight, sir"
"Nhy2'
"Inj1as is close up; One of the sheep I
spoke OF was speaTed."
~ heard there. vera fva black fAllouvs
about, sad MI ., delaying to mount,
but toe ride is safe enough; I've got my
Tlfic with ne"
They're too close" responded the shep-
HERO after Hlling panikin Of tea, and, con-
tTaTy To his custom, standing his gun
against the table.
We looked at him inQuiringly. He kept
his eyes wandering over and around the
duckS, while lie explained: wall, you
see, sir, after S-en' the spear wound on the
cTaU,er, l looked about me purity sharp, but
couldn't see n0thin' TIL l was leavin' the
belt there, when [ sighted one @ the var
minis wrigslng through the grass like
snake. ! was gUu' 10 give him a pill, but l
81 yyI in a nd han
another; and continued the narrator, with
something like glow Of expectation, they
amt far of now [ reckon"
He mad scarcely uttered the words when
lie lifted both hands and struck Mr.. s.
full on the chest with enough force 10 drive
him to the extreme end OF the hut. At the
same instant a spear whiZZed through the
olel doorway and quvered ia the slabs be-
hind
"Bv gum"
More remarks were drowned by loud
quiverIng snort from the poor horse; a mo-
ment alter and he rolled heavily across the
hut door, completely blocking up the en-
trance.
Mat nluttered away, "First-rate for US
cUonsl 1ed better bar the door, Bill Doe
tori doctor! doctor! psf! pstl Here lad"
The dog leaped on the shepherd. by
gum" he said, Il thought he was outside"
BY this time Mr.. 8 was cooIly recon-
motoring through the loop-hOles. He had
action as unconcernedly as the shepherd.
These quiet, brave men Inspired me with
confidence ana l remember thinking as |
threw water on the fire so as to extinguish
ali light that the black fellows had met their
match. by this time the moon was up and
the light was gradually growing on the land
scape. At first we could discern the outlines
OF the trees, and then, as the night
Nithered, the white scared grass be-
tween the shadows. There was a
n aF Mr. md
myself had our barrels through the loop
holes aud were closely watching for any
movement outside. The cOnYulSive shud-
deTIDg of the bOrSe had ceased, and there
was a painful silence. The squatter and
Mat were like two statues, and nOtWith-
standing the quiet breathing of the dog and
the crOaklBg Of the frogs along the river
there seemed to be fTightful significance in
the silence that was brOOdlng above these
sounds Every instant 1 was expecting a
rush from the outside, and there was not
sign nor sound to betray the presence Of
any enemy. The sheep were camping quietly
around the hurdles. Silence-the bright
mOOn-the white fieeces mingling with the
color of the grass-the still shadows OF the
treeS-the far black tOTeSt-the spectral
tTaceTy Of the branches in the moonlight.
The silence was terrible. One OF the outside
weathers rose and walked forward a few
yards, then commenced stamping quickly Oh
the ground.
Darn my eyes" said Mat, for the first
tfme breaking the silence IF the Ole Par
son han't sighted one Of the niggerS."
The Ole ParsOn" was patriarch wether
that was afflicted with the foot-rot, and
usually fed on his knees.
So he hos, and by gum there's a crowd
the whole tribe heY come to visit Not
enough in shade boss" concluded Mat,
after another interval, and in hard-Whis-
pering tone.
The next moment the first report rang out
into myriad echoes. A shrill death-shOut
followed, as the dark figure of a man leaped
witt sudden force from the ambush aud
prone gurglIng out blood and broken words.
''Now boss" said Mat, looking out. but
still charging: Fifty yards to the right Of