Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-05


 and yet it was like the cry of some poor human creature in the extremity of dis. tress It was so ghastly, so unearthly, that the horse I was riding, although he was steady old brute, shied and swerved sharply round. He was in such panic that could not help remember ing mothers old world stories about ghosts, although tried to tell myself that there was no such thing. However, ghost or no ghost, was bound to go on, so set stout heart to stey brae, and when found that I could not force the terrified brute up the bank I dis mounted and tied him to young gum tree.
 ''I had scarcely set my face to the bank again when the same cry sounded out once more. I tell you, mates, it made the blood run cold round my heart, it was so shrilly wild, so unearthly, SO despairing, and, to make 1t worse, the black night came down on me again mirk and heavy like the blackness of the parish mortcloth used to wonder at when was boy. I had not the least idea in what direction to turn and was standing irresolute when heard the cry again. and it sounded nearer and was so distinct that I thought I could go straight to the very spot it came from. The bank was so steep that had to scramble up on my hands and knees, of- ten slipping back and stopping to listen, but could hear nothing except the soft, gurgling plash of the water down be- heath me. was not Sure which way to turn when I heard the cry again right out of the scrub before me. was in the right direction, that was one good thing, but I will never deny that was fright ened a bit, it was such a terrible cry and the spot was so lonely. had that spirit in me, though, that would not go back, and crept forward on my hands and knees toward the top of the bank, which was covered with close, low bush. It was bit of a climb, and had stopped minute to get my breath when I thought I heard a low moaning noise close to me. gripped my revolver, but it was of little use in the darkness, so l took out instead 0 big bowie knife all ways carried and held it ready in my hand. The next moment there was a sort of hurtling rush through the air above me and something leaped right down upon my shoulder. l gave yell and then another, and then away down the bank we rolled, irving and tearing at each other in an agony of mortal fright As soon as could get my right hand free gave desperate thrust with the knife, and with yell of rage and pain the creature dropped off from me, and I heard the thud of its fall on some pro- jecting rock or bush that had caught it in its descent.
 ''I was more frightened than hurt and soon scrambled to my feet. As a smoker is never without matches, soon had light, with which groped my way down to where the creature lay, and what do you think found?"
 "A teeger maybe," said another old school fellow.
 ''Ye silly gowk, there are no tigers in Australia. found Bill; but, my word, he was not the comfortable, we'll fed beast he is today. I don't think ever saw such a dog as he looked then either before or since. He was gaunt, starved skeleton, bleeding slowly from wound in the side, which he had got in the struggle with me. He made no attempt to escape, but lifted his head and gave me look so pathetic, so almost human ill its mute, reproachful appeal for help, that it fairly went to my heart. spoke gently to him, and he looked up at me as if he would fain have spoken and told me his story. He let me stanch the blood that was trickling from his side, and bound up the wound as we'll as could. He then staggered to his feet and whined and caught my sleeve with his teeth, and showed me as plainly as if he had spoken that he wanted me tc follow him.
 II took up the lantern and he wagged his tail and licked my hand, and we scrambled up the bank together. and then always whining and looking bach he led the way into the bush. The brush, wood was so thick and dense that was almost beat. could scarcely force my way through, but whenever stopped tc get mouthful of breath he whined and fawned on me, and pulled at my sleeve, and showed such an agony of distress that could not but pity the poor dumt beast and make all the haste could tc follow. By this time the day was be- ginning to break, and it was not so darl as it had been. He had led me to sort of cave formed by shelf of rock pro jecting from the bank, and there, wrap ped ill tartan shawl, was arsight that brought my heart to my mouth. A girl, bit lassie. so sorely wasted and spent that I lifted her up in my arms like a child and carried her ont to the open. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed too far gone for speech, but there was life in her still, as I could see by the flickering of her eyelids when stopped down to look at her.
 "As for the dog, who had crawled after us, he looked up in my face with his pathetic eyes full of dumb prayer for help, and then, for he was fairly beat and could not, believe, have dragged his trembling limbs another step, he stretched himself out on the grass beside her and licked her ittlt wasted hand. I was in such a state oi excitement myself that I fairly trem bled. scarcely knew what to do, but got some water and laved her face ana moistened her lips, and when she haG swallowed few drops she came round so far that she could utter word or twC 1 in faint whisper.
 "Thus, bit by bit, got her story She and her father had been on thei way home from the goldfelds, and h. had considerable sum of money ol him, how much she scarcely knew, an, it made little matter, for it was all gone In darksome gully on the road he hal been set upon and robbed and murdered and she had fled to the bush like dis tracted creature and wandered about da, and night till Bill had come back to her and she had followed, him to this cave
 where she had lived for some weeks ol ! such berries and roots as she could find
 She was afraid to leave it's poor shelter for she had lost her way completely an was thoroughly bewildered, and so whe