Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-10-25

hosts, straight at whose bodies the gun
was pointed, and neither one dared to
move hand toward his own weapon.
Then, setting the paunilkin down, |
said:
"Thanls, mates, but ! must get to
Coleraine before sleep. Good night"
And l backed out of the open door,
while the disappointed villains sought
to hide their chagrin under forced
laugh,
When well clear of the hut. walked
on as fast MS my fearful fatigue and
the muddy road would permit, feeling
quite certain that fshould be followed,
or, perhaps, headed off, as the creek
here described great semicircle, and
the bushrangers might know of some
short cut
The bank of the stream was covered
by dense growth of scrub, in which
l might easily have hidden from the
men, but knew that the dog, doubt
less well trained, would quickly ferret
me out. Hence | staggered on, scarce
ly able, Notwithstanding my peril, to
keep awake.
The rain had ceased now, and the
clouds were rolling away, so that l
could see surrounding objects with
some degree of distinctness. had got
past the bend, perhaps four miles from
the hut, when, directly in my path,
and only few rods ahead saw the
two convicts and their dog standing
motionless under a spreading acacia,
evidently waiting for me to come
along. They had taken a short cut,
just as had feared, of course expect
ing to catch me unawares. But ], too,
was in deep shade at the moment, and
knew that none of the trio had yet
seen me. Neither could the dog scent
me, as what little breeze there was
blew from him to me.
Slipping noiselessly behind great
ironbark tree, removed the caps from
the nipples of my gun, quietly detached
the barrels from the stock, took hold
of the muzzles, and thus had conven-
lent and deadly weapon, the double
breech being quite heavy and admira-
bly, adapted to my purposed mode Of
defense.
The two scoundrels appeared to be
half drunk; and, not hearing me COM
ing, were indulgng in string of inn
patient blood-curdling oaths, while
the dog, could see. was held by a
piece of rope.
For fully twenty minutes my propin-
guilty was not suspected, and by this
time the waiting highwaymen had, in
their horrible jargon, over and over
again consigned my heart, liver and
eyes to double-dyed, everlasting perdi-
ton, proceeding which amused them,
and didn't hurt me. They had even
begun to debate as to the expediency
of turning back to meet me, when, all
of sudden, the light wind shifted
around and bore my scent to the dog.
The secret was out-the critical mo-
ment come. Instantly on catching the
scent the savage brute began to strain
furiously on his leash, and whine with
bloodthirsty eagerness as he dragged
his keeper straight toward my hiding.
place.
Full we'll knew, as the murderous
pair came on, that in few short sec
onds l might be lying prone beneath
the pitiless stars, a stripped and
mangled corpse, my fate, like that o.
SO many other gold-secking wanderers
forever unknown to the loved ones
waiting and watching year after yeal
in their far-away homes for tiding.
that never in this world would come.
Yet, being at that time young, strong
and active, and having, moreover, the
advantage in position, did not despair
of coming off victorious in the impend
ing struggle.
Now, it is obvious that by simply
keeping my gun intact, could, placed
as | was, have easily shot down boil
1en and afterward Drained the dog
with very little risk to myself But
besides natural repugnance to tax
ing human life, such a course would
thought, expose me, stranger, t
very great inconvenience and even
perhaps, to grave suspicion, thougl
had known who the footpads reall
were | might have dismissed sue
fears.
On came man and dog, the first filth
lily cursing, as the less ignobie brut
almost jerked him off his feet, and tn
latter raging like maddened tiger a
he vainly tried to hurry his not neal
ly so eager master, around whose lef
hand was twined the rope, while hi
right brandished the ugly club ha
seen on the table in the hut
Meanwhile, the second villai
.,louched behind, apparently waitin
for the first assailant to draw my fire
neither man, of course, having an
I idea that had voluntarily deprive
myself of the means of shooting fo
the present.
Struggling and tuning, sometime
Oh all fours, sometimes erect on hi
hind feet, the dog at last thrust hi
head beyond the bole of my tree, an
the next instant by single blow {
my heavy weapon, was crushed like a
eggshell, and the too-faithful creatur
dropped dead without so much as
, moan.
Perceiving now that was not in
5 condition to fire, the man sprang TO
ward and aimed vicious stroke at m
head, but, midway in its descent,
! caught the bludgeon ON the gun-ba
rels, and, almost in the same motion
brought the latter down upon the mi
\ creant's skull, telling him to the eartl
i senseless as log.
$ Thus far all had gone well, but m
4 deadliest peril was vet to come, fc
| .,,,,r tho rom I'M r,nr e. Il rdi 4;