The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-21

1
"You recollect that 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 a 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
Il 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 a good sleep and go on i
the mornin'.'
''Most gladly would l have ac-
cepted this invitation had the men
been other than they were, for
l was tired and ravenously hungry;
but / knew that should l do so
my good sleep would be the eternal
one of death and my fate mystery
never to be solved in this world. So,
civilly thanking the fellows, I said
that | must reach the township that
night. My would-b be hosts were plain
ly disappointed at this reply, and the
one who had spoken before said, grutf-
| ly: Well. dang it, mate, if you must
you must, but talk a sup o grog, any
how; it'll chirl you up bit, at the
same time holding toward me across
the table one of the tin cups. To
avoid precipitating a quarrel | took
it with my left hand, stepped back a
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
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-loolling
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 stranger convinced me at once that
he was trained! l now said good
night, backed out of the door. closed it
| 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-
OCCASIONALLY smothered cath or two.
Listening then more intently, plainly
recognized that low, eager whine which
dog makes when Juggling at his chain,
and it required no great sagacity to
tell me that the villains We're 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.
II knew now. for certain. that in a
few minutes | should be engaged in a
life-and-death struggle against heavy
odds, but | cannot say that felt much
fear, though l would gladly have
avoided the encounter.
1T would, of course, have been a
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.
"BeS' es, though tolerably sure of
ultimate acquittal, had no particular
ambition to be myself tried for murder
in this colony where the law is terribly
swift and stern in its operations. Had
| known then what l afterwards knew
| might have acted ditferentlv: but
now made haste to try 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, a most
effective and convenient weapon.
"Then | stood motionless in the
shadow, waiting; but not for long. In
less than minute my pursuers were
close at hand, and, being entirely I'M
aware of my proximity, were talking
and swearing quite freely IN the thick,
cultural t IS of half-drunken men. /
distinctly heard one of them say:
'Loolee 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 moan
his skull crushed in nv a blow from the