The state capital., 1891-08-22

that quick perception engendered by
peril. But it was too late to back out
My lack of caution had once again
brought me into scrape and must
get clear as best l could.
''You recollect that l had with me
that light double. barrel gun, response
BILE for the death of so many 'possums,
and both barrels being now loaded with
heavy shoe, / quietly raised the ham
mers to full cock and carelessly throw
ing the gun across my left arm, with
my right hand resting on the stock and
trigger guard, advanced step or two
on the earthen floor, and said: Good
evening, mates, I'm bound for Coleraine.
Can you tell me how far it is, and
whether up, or down, stream?
81 saw quick glance of intelligence
pass between the ruffians and, plain as
print, read murder in their eyes, as one
of them answered: Well, mate, it's a
matter O. seven miles down stream, but
you'll never be trampin' there tonight.
Better bide wi us; ave summat to eat
and drink and good sleep and go on i
the mornin'.'
'Most gladly would I have ac-
cepted this invitation had the men
been other than they were, for
| was tired and ravenously hungry;
but / knew that should / do so
one of death and my fate a mystery
never to be solved in this world. So,
civilly thanking the fellows, l said
that must reach the township that
night My would-be hosts were plain
ly disappointed at this reply, and the
one who had spoken before said, gruff-
ly: We'll, dang it, mate, if you must
you must, but TAX sup O. grog, any
how; it'll chirk you up a bit,' at the
same time holding toward me across
the table one of the tin cups. To
avoid precipitating a quarrel l took
it with my left hand, stepped back
pace or two with the gun poised in
my right and raised the cup to my
lips without for an instant relaxing my
watchfulness, proceeding which
greatly disconnected my entertainers,
as they had doubtless supposed that l
would lay down my weapon and take
seat while drinking.
''After feigning to swallow some of
the vile stuff, | stepped forward to re-
turn the cup and in doing so saw some
thing which made my pulse beat a lit
tie faster and dispelled at least one of
my plans for escape.
THE something was an ugly-looking
cur dog stretched out, quiet and mo-
tionless, on the hearth, and with half
shut, keen eyes gazing furtively at me.
And so vanished all hope of hiding in
the darkness; for the fact that the ami
NAL had taken no notice of the entrance
of a stranger convinced me at once that
he was trained! / now said good
carefully and started off down the
road, feeling morally certain that /
should be followed. BY this time the
rain had ceased; the sky was clear Of
clouds, and by the light of the stars
| could family distinguish surround
ing objects. Great as my need was, |
was too tired to walk fast, but pressed
doggedly on. sometimes half asleep,
and had got some distance, probably
three miles, from the hut when heard,
behind me, sound as of footsteps
staggering through the mud, and oc-
cassionally smothered cath or two.
Listening then more intently, I plainly
recognized that low, eager whine which
a dog makes when tugging at his chain,
and it required no great sagacity to
tell me that the villains were tracking
me and holding their fellow brute in
check, so that he might not run on me
in advance and get killed before they
could come up.
81 knew now, for ertain. that in
few minutes should be engaged in
life-and-death struggle against heavy
odds, but cannot say that felt much
fear, though l would gladly have
avoided the encounter.
sit would, of course, have been
quite easy matter for me to have shot
both these men dead in their tracks,
but did not want to do this, even on
such strong presumptive evidence of
their murderous intent.
Besides, though tolerably sure of
ultimate acquittal, l had no particular
in this colony where the law is terribly
swift and stern in its operations. Had
known then what | afterwards knew
| might have acted differently; but
now made haste to carry out an al
ready matured plan of defense.
"About twenty yards ahead | saw by
the roadside large ironbark tree, and
stepping quickly behind this l took the
percussion caps off the nipples of my
gun, separated the stock from the bar
rels and thus had, in the latter, most
effective and convenient weapon.
"Then l stood motionless in the
shadow, waiting; but not for long. In
less than minute my pursuers were
close at hand, and, being entirely un-
aware of my proximity, were talking
and swearing quite freely In the thick,
distinctly heard one of them say:
'Lookee ere now, 'soon's ever we
catches sight of i'm you let the dog go
and it'll grab the cove, so ell never
think to fire till we comes up to knock
i'm in the 'ead. We don't want no
shootin' nor noise at this job
" Very good indeed!' l thought, the
big pistol won't be discharged except
in the last extremity. This reassuring
idea had hardly crossed my mind when
the dog, now straining furiously on his
leash, came around the tree and in the
instant dropped dead without a moan
his skull crushed in by blow from the
breech of my gun barrels.
$50 surprised were the rufians by
this unexpected attack that, for sec
ond or two, both stood stock still, Civ
ing me ample time to again swing my
vyeoDon and hripr IL down with 20