The Butler weekly times., 1894-01-11
like a centaur.

lcsoIuto Aa>e, aiSo, ilOIA LIS sdhbhc
noticed hanging a stockwhip with
curiouslv carved handle After sup
per I offered them the use Of the
tent, which was thankfully accepted.
"The missis i'll be only too glad Of
the chance. We've had to lie out
this couple of nights So they took
their swag inside. while l lay at the
FIRE, with pack saddle for pillow,
and the dog at my feet.
When l awoke as most bushmen
do. about midnight. clouds were
sailing over the moon and the air
felt chilly. Throwing more wood on
the fire, I stood warming myself
while I filled my pipe.
I could hear the bells not far off
in the scrub, and know by their
steady tinklipg that the animals had
found a good patch and were con
tented.
Suddenly loud neigh broke the
stiffness, followed hy the rulnbling
with which a struggling horse greets
the presence of others Then I could
hear the quick rattle of hobble chain
as our four galloped up to inspect
thu newcomer. There was a pause
for a minute, then a regular snorting
stampede, as they crashed wildly
through the scrub, their bells ring
ing like mad and getting fainter in
the distance.
Bother" thought I, 'that means
a long walk in the morning, unless
they take turn" Knocking the
ashes out of my pipe and preparing
to lie down again in rather bad
temper, heard the tramp of Sill
gle horse, making steady toward
our camp. As the steps came nearer
the dog growled and startled lowly,
aud, with the hair about his neck
brlstling like ruff, backed slowly
toward the tent.
Noticing this, a cold feeling OF
disquiet aud nervousness crept upon
me-one, in fact, as near fright as
they make it. Just then the moon
shone out full ON the figure of a
horseman emerging from the scrul
and coming straight for me, his head
dropping forward and his whole
body swayiug in the saddle.
At this sight my courage revived
wonderfully. Drunken riders ars
common enough in the bush, and
sung out grutfly and with a note o
i'll temper in my voice: Better ge
off mate, before you tumble off. H.
would be a nuisance, no doubt, ant
I inwardly fumed as he sat there il
the moonbeams quite helpless, on,
hand clutching the reins, the otbe
on the horses wether, his chin OF
his breast aud his broad -leafed ha
well down over his eyes
The dog, his head alone visibl
outside the tent door, still growle.
in one long hoarse snarl, with. ut in
tervals, a seconds break for fresl
breath--a most unearthly noise au,
the like of which / never recollecte,
in all onr long companionship, sine
} his puppyhood
"Ah. | muttered, lisgustedl,
you drunken brute I suppose L
/ have to come and help you off
And going up on the near side {
the brown horse with white star AL
snip. standing very quietly there,
> placed my hand on the rider $. ]
was like ice. Looking up quickly
saw black whiskered face, ashe
gray in the moonlight, with wild,
, open eyes, fixed aud CLASSY, starin
vaeautly iutto my own. All at once
realizing the terror of the thing,
jumped back and shouted, l kno
J not what.
1 At the sound of my voice the do
lifted up his head and walled Ion
and loudly. Then another voice
4 the tent cursed him heartily, and
' a minute tue stranger came out an
| walked to the fire and yawned an
!. stretched himself, no. noticing II
l standing in the shadow of saplin;
$ Eyeing the motionless man curiousl
O 1,n ~>ra,ar,kIx, fo,,--a1 ,x,l