The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-16

QlQ not make muCQ OI Cudt JcD.
A number of stockneu had met at
what is now Wentworth, the junction OF
the Murray and Darling Rivers, and one
of them, Tom Burke, was the speaker.
He continued:
''Ill spin you the yarn, boys. You
see, in '56 the Murray had risen to an
unusual hight and spread for miles over
the plains, filling up all the billibongs
and back lakes, so the cattle had taken
to the high grounds, where the Myall
blacks had a fine time going round in
their canoes and spering them. When
the food went down we had a general
muster on the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan
and Darlings, when we found the herds
all mixed up, while lots of them had
spears still sticking in them. Jim Null
Inns and I, from Carwarp, with Billy Nc
Mahon, from Poon-Boon, had been driv-
ing on the outer side of Fletcher's Run,
and we camped one night at a sheep
station hunt on the Yarracool Creek.
Next morning had just slung the billy
to make tea when Jim Mullins, who was
going after our horses, sang out, Boys,
here'sa whole tribe of Myalls coming along
the plain and, sure enough, there were
fifty or sixty of them all painted up, but
without spears or shields. Of course we
all hurried out OF the hut to see what
they were up to, and got our revolvers
and double-barreled shotgun ready.
When they were about $50 yards off
Mullins called out to them not to come
any closer; but they held their hands up
over their heads and still advanced till
brought the gun up to my shoulder;
then a very tall, powerful black, called
Boney, who used to knock round the
Murray aud Darling stations, stepped out
in front and shouted: sHulloo, Tom,
mine want to talk along with you Don't
be afraid, these all budgerer (gcoD black
fellows
"'I'm not afraid, said I, 'but don't
you come any nearer, or directly gun
talk along with you
''At that moment the sun shone out
brightly, and was reflected with dazzling
brilliancy from Boney's broad chest.
"sGive me the gun, Tom,' said Nc
Mahon; 'these beggars have been rob-
bing my cabin, for that's my hair-brush
with the looking-glass back that Boney
has slung round his neck
, "sHold on, Billy, it won't do to throw
iaway shot, for we've very little am.
muuition,' said I, as I handed him the
g4p.
t'Still the blacks came on, in spite Of
our warnings, until they were only fifty
or sixtY yards off, and then McMahon's
gun cracked, the looking-glass was shat.
tered to atoms, and Roney, spinning
around convulsively, fell dead; while, at
tbe same moment, his companions
v'hirled aloft their throwing-spears,
which they had been dragging with their
toes through the grass.
SAT once we dashed into the hut and
closed the door, as a shower of spears
came whizzing along and quivered in the
walls and the Myalls rushed on with
fierce yells, but the rapid fire from a
brace of Colts revolvers, which streamed
from the windows, quickly checked their
rush, end sinking to the earth they van
ished completely from our sight.
"All that day we watched the plain.
There were no Myslls to be seen, but
whenever one Of us would cautiously
open the door a dozen dusky figures
would spring up and volley of. spears
would quickly impress on US the fact
that discretion is the better part Of
valor, and though occasional shots were
fired by us they were only for the pur-
pose of showing that We were on the
alert.
"At last the sun went down, and as
darkness soon followed we breathed more
freely, for you know the blacks will not
STIR from their camps after nightfall for
fear Of the sdebbil-debbil;' so we cooked
supper and then held council Of war.
ave had only five or six charges OF
powder left, for there were no breech-
leaders then, aud We guessed that the
Myalls would not wait much longer be-
fore they would rush us, and then their
long jag-spears would soon finish us, so
we we're in very dangerous predica-
ment. Billy Mcmahon took the buckets