The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-04-20

out this last couple o. nights" So they
took their swags inside, while L lay at the
fire, with a pack saddle for a pillow and
the dog at my feet.
When L awolze, as most bushmen do,
about midnight, clouds were sailing over
the moon, and the air felt chilly. Throw
ing more wood on the fire, l stood warm
ing myself while filled my pipe.
could hear the bells not very far off in
the scrub, and knew by their steady tin
king that the animals had found good
patch and were contented.
Suddenly a loud neigh broke the stiffness
followed by the rumbling whinny with
which a Struggling horse greets the pres
ence of others. Then l could hear the
quick rattle of hObble chains as our four
gallOped up to inspect the newcomer.
There was pause of a minute. then a reg
ular snorting stampede, as they crashed
widely away through the scrub, their bells
ringing like mad, and getting fainter and
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, 1 heard the tramp of single
horse making steadily toward the camp.
AS the steps came nearer the dog grOwled
and snarled lowly, and with the hair about
his neck bristling like a ruff backed slowly
toward the tent.
Noticing this, cold feeling of disquiet
and nervousness crept upon income, IN
fact, as near fright as they make it. Just
then the moon shone out full on the figure
of horseman emerging from the scrub
and coming straight for me, his head
dropping forward and his whole body
swaying in the saddle.
At this sight my courage revived wonder
fully. Drunken riders are common enough
in the bush, and 1 sung out gruffiy, with
note of i'll temper in my voice. "Better get
off, mate, before you tumble off" He
would be nuisance, no doubt, and in
wardly fumed as he sat there in the
moonbeams quite helpless, one hand clutch
ing the reins, the other on the horses
wither, his chin on his breast, and broad
leafed hat well down over his eyes.
The dog, his head alone visible outside
the tent dOer, still growled in one long
hOarse snarl, with, at intervals, a seconds
break for fresh breath most unearIhly
noise, and one the like of which I never re-
collected in all our long cOmpaniOnship
since his puppyhOOd.
''Ah," l muttered disgustedly, "you
drunken brute! suppose I'll have to come
and help you OFF,
And going up on the near side of the
brown horse with white star and snip,
standing very quietly there, I placed my
hand on the riders. 1t was like ice. Look
ing up quickly 1 saw a black whiskered
face, ashen gray in the moonlight, with
wide open eyes. fixed and CLASSY, staring
Yacantly into my own. All at once, realiZ
ing the terror of the thing, jumped hur-
redly back and shouted, l know not what.
At the sound of my voice the dog lifted
up his head and walled long and loudly.
Then another voice in the tent cursed him
heartily, and in minute the stranger came
out and walked to the fire and yawned and
stretched himself, not noticing me stand
ing in the shadow of a sapling.
Eying the mOtiOnlesS horSeman curiOuSly
he presently lounged up and peered doubt
fully under the broad hat and started back,
true to his instinct, glanced at the brands
plainly visible on the horses near shoulder;
then, advancing, placed his hand, as had
done, on that so cold one, and exclaiming,
''HeIl! It's himn rushed away to the tent
There was an exciting muttering, and in a
minute the pair scuttled out and began to
hurriedly tumble for their brides, casting
shy chances at the figure which, as the
horse began to strain its head down in the
attempt to free the reins from that steel
like grasp, kept nidnodding in a friendly
fashion most horrible to look at.
Meanwhile, taking heart of grace from
their presence, ran and caught the horse,
beginning to stray toward the bells. return
ing now. Leading it back, noticed that
the mans legs were fastened tightly by
saddle and breastplate straps running from
the DIS in front to those on the cantle.
With some trouble / undid them. As l
worked the chin strap slipped, the jaw fell,
and the white teeth cleaned suddenly into
such an awful grin that 1 let go ard
stepped hastily back again.
The hat now fell off and revealed tine
features of guile young man, with coal
black hair and mustache, and beard 1eck-
ed with dabs of dry foam. Even at its best
1 should have called it bad, cruel face.
Now it was simply hideOus. The traveller
was Sinking off into the scrub, the woman
at his heels, when all at once she turned
and came swiftly to where stood staring
at that CHASTITY visage. "Here,' said she
brusquely, ''I'H help you. 'Tain't fair to
leave you the whole contract. He was
real bad 'un,n she went oD, tryiag vainly
to loosen the stiffened fingers grip on the
reins, "but he couldn't scare me when he
was alive, an I amt agoin TO let him do it
now. Seei this was the last BIT he doneIs'
and she paused to brush aside her long
hair aud show greas red scar, even now
only half healed, running across temple
and forehead. "Cut 'emp' she exclaimed
impatently, and beginning TO trembIs ner-